Bhagavad Gita · Karma YogaChapter 3, Shloka 26 (3.26)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्
जोषयेत् सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान् युक्तः समाचरन्
॥ 3.26 ॥
na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām
joṣayet sarvakarmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran
Translation
"The wise should not create confusion (wavering) in the understanding of the unknowing who are attached to action; rather, established in yoga themselves and performing all actions well, they should keep them engaged (in action) too."
Interpretation
"Buddhi-bheda" — what is it?
- Shankaracharya: mayā idaṃ kartavyaṃ bhoktavyaṃ cāsya karmaṇaḥ phalam iti niścaya-rūpāyā buddheḥ bhedanaṃ cālanam — shaking or breaking the understanding that has the conviction "I must do this, and I am to enjoy its fruit". That is, making the unknowing person's steadfastness in action unstable.
- Acharya Ramanuja: not putting into seekers of liberation who are eligible for karma-yoga the confusion that karma-yogād anyathā ātmāvalokanam asti — that there is a (direct) path to the vision of the self other than karma-yoga. Rather, the wise one, with the understanding that karma-yoga eva jñāna-yoga-nirapekṣa ātmāvalokana-sādhanam — karma-yoga by itself, even without jnana-yoga, is a means to the vision of the self — should act, and awaken prīti (love) for action in those who know only partly.
The art of teaching. The task of the wise is to lead the learner to the next rung of the ladder — not to call the whole ladder "useless" and make the learner fall.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.