यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः। स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते॥
yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ । sa yat pramāṇaṃ kurute lokas tad anuvartate ॥
PM's MessageAdarniya Atal ji's birth anniversary is a special opportunity for all of us to draw inspiration from his life. His conduct, decorum, and commitment to national interest are an ideal standard for Indian politics. He showed that greatness is established by conduct, not position. On this occasion I share this subhashita which defines one aspect of his life.
Meaning of Yad Yad Ācarati Śreṣṭhas
Whatever a great person does, ordinary people follow in the same way. The behavior of a leader or an exemplary person serves as a guide for society and followers.
Word by word
- यत् यत्yad yad
whatever
यद्
- आचरतिācarati
practises, does
आ + √चर्
- श्रेष्ठःśreṣṭhaḥ
the eminent one
श्रेष्ठ
- तत् तत् एवtat tad eva
that very thing
तद् + एव
- इतरःitaraḥ
the other
इतर
- जनःjanaḥ
people
√जन्
- सःsaḥ
he
तद्
- यत्yat
which
यद्
- प्रमाणम्pramāṇam
standard, authority
प्र + √मा
- कुरुतेkurute
sets up
√कृ
- लोकःlokaḥ
the world
लोक
- तत्tat
that
तद्
- अनुवर्ततेanuvartate
follows after
अनु + √वृत्
Commentary
One of the most famous verses from the Bhagavad Gita, this teaching emphasizes the social responsibility of leaders and exemplary individuals. Krishna explains to Arjuna that the masses naturally look up to those in positions of influence and emulate their behavior. Therefore, a leader must act with great care and integrity, as their standards become the benchmark for society. It is a call for leadership by example rather than just by command. The verse does not stand alone in the Gita. It sits in the karma-yoga chapter immediately before Krishna turns the argument on himself, pointing out that he has nothing left to gain in the three worlds and yet does not cease from action. The line about the eminent setting a standard is therefore the setup for an example, and the example is the speaker. Pramāṇa is a measure or authority — not what the eminent person recommends, but what their conduct silently establishes as the scale.
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 Leadership
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.