तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ। ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि॥
tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi ॥
PM's MessageNoble conduct is like a lamp that illuminates not just the individual but society as a whole. Inspired by this ideal, the citizens of our country are today engaged in nation-building with complete restraint, capability and dedication to duty.
Meaning of Tasmācchāstraṁ Pramāṇaṁ Te
The determination of what ought to be done and what ought not to be done should not rest upon subjective opinion or momentary impulse but upon a well-ordered standard grounded in the śāstra, which imparts direction and discipline to conduct. Therefore, a person ought to act in accordance with that established system of standards, so that one's conduct becomes balanced, validated and meaningful.
Word by word
- तस्मात्tasmāt
therefore
तद्
- शास्त्रम्śāstram
scripture
√शास्
- प्रमाणम् तेpramāṇaṁ te
is your authority
प्र + √मा
- कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौkāryākāryavyavasthitau
in settling what should and should not be done
√कृ + वि + अव + √स्था
- ज्ञात्वाjñātvā
having understood
√ज्ञा
- शास्त्रविधानोक्तम्śāstravidhānoktam
what is enjoined by scriptural rule
शास्त्र + वि + √धा + √वच्
- कर्मkarma
action
√कृ
- कर्तुम्kartum
to do
√कृ
- इह अर्हसिihārhasi
you ought here
√अर्ह्
Commentary
The verse directs Arjuna to treat shastra as his authority when deciding what should and should not be done. Having understood the injunction stated by scripture, he ought to act accordingly. Its immediate claim concerns scriptural authority and prescribed conduct, not objective frameworks or civic law in general. Applying its emphasis on standards to institutions or governance can be useful, but that is a modern analogy rather than the literal sense of shastravidhana.
Sources and textual variants
Original Post
More from Bhagavad Gita
View source pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṃ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca । nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes a character free from hatred and ego, friendly to all beings and steady in joy and sorrow.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
More subhashitams on Dharma
View topic pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
ज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः। दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः॥
śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ । dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥
Purity, generosity, courage, steadiness in joy and sorrow, courtesy, affection, and truthfulness are the qualities of a true friend.