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Shloka 29

Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda

Renunciation and the Discipline of Action

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढा: सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु । तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्‌ कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत्‌

prakṛter guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇa-karmasu | tān akṛtsna-vido mandān kṛtsna-vit na vicālayet ||

Aqueles cujo entendimento é desnorteado pelos guṇas da natureza material apegam-se aos guṇas e às ações que deles surgem. O conhecedor do todo não deve perturbar os de mente lenta, que apreendem apenas uma parte; antes, deve orientar sem provocar confusão nem desprezo—sobretudo quando o dever é grave e a guerra se avizinha.

प्रकृतेःof Prakriti (nature)
प्रकृतेः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootप्रकृति
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
गुणसम्मूढाःdeluded by the guṇas
गुणसम्मूढाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootगुणसम्मूढ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
सज्जन्तेbecome attached / cling
सज्जन्ते:
TypeVerb
Rootसञ्ज्
FormPresent, Indicative, Ātmanepada, Third, Plural
गुणकर्मसुin qualities and actions
गुणकर्मसु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगुणकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Locative, Plural
तान्those (people)
तान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अकृत्स्नविदःknowers of only a part (not of the whole)
अकृत्स्नविदः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअकृत्स्नविद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
मन्दान्dull-witted / slow
मन्दान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमन्द
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
कृत्स्नवित्the knower of the whole
कृत्स्नवित्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृत्स्नविद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
विचालयेत्should disturb / unsettle
विचालयेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + चल्
FormPresent, Optative, Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

अजुन उवाच

P
prakṛti
G
guṇas
K
karma

Educational Q&A

People driven by the guṇas naturally cling to guṇa-based actions; therefore, the wise should not arrogantly disrupt the partially informed, but lead them skillfully toward clearer understanding and steadier dharma without causing inner conflict or resentment.

On the battlefield setting of Bhīṣma Parva, the teaching addresses how knowledge should be applied amid urgent duty: even when one sees deeper truth, one should counsel others in a way that supports right action rather than destabilizing those not yet ready for full insight.