Therefore, scripture is your authority for deciding what should be done and what should not be done. Knowing the duties laid out in scripture, you should act here in the world.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 16.24
Hindi · हिन्दी
अतः तेरे लिये कर्तव्यअकर्तव्यकी व्यवस्थामें शास्त्र ही प्रमाण है ऐसा जानकर तू इस लोकमें शास्त्रविधिसे नियत कर्तव्य कर्म करनेयोग्य है ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
तस्मात्thereforeशास्त्रम्scriptureप्रमाणम्authorityतेfor youकार्य-अकार्य-व्यवस्थितौin the arrangement of what should be done and what should not be doneज्ञात्वाhaving knownशास्त्र-विधान-उक्तम्spoken in scriptural ruleकर्तुम्to doइहhere
Read literallytherefore · scripture · authority · for you · in the arrangement of what should be done and what should not be done · having known · spoken in scriptural rule · to do · here
Understanding the verse
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Scripture is your authority, Krishna tells Arjuna, for deciding what to do and what to avoid.
Right and wrong action should be judged by scripture, not impulse. Knowing that guidance, a person should do the duty set before them.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Arjuna has been overwhelmed by doubt. After exposing the ruin caused by desire and lawless action, Krishna closes the argument by grounding right action in scripture. The point is clear: act, but let higher guidance decide what right action is.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A new judge, unsure about a hard case, goes back to the law books before ruling. Krishna asks Arjuna to do the same with dharma: know what scripture lays down, then act.
The takeaway
“You do not have to invent your own moral compass in the heat of confusion.”
Right and wrong action should be judged by scripture, not impulse. Knowing that guidance, a person should do the duty set before them.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 16.24?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga" (The Divine and Demoniac Natures).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 16.24?
Verse 24 sits in Chapter 16 of the Bhagavad Gita — Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga, "The Divine and Demoniac Natures". The chapter has 24 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 16.24 matter today?
A new judge, unsure about a hard case, goes back to the law books before ruling. Krishna asks Arjuna to do the same with dharma: know what scripture lays down, then act.
Scripture is your authority, Krishna tells Arjuna, for deciding what to do and what to avoid.
What this verse means
Right and wrong action should be judged by scripture, not impulse. Knowing that guidance, a person should do the duty set before them.
Context & commentary
Arjuna has been overwhelmed by doubt. After exposing the ruin caused by desire and lawless action, Krishna closes the argument by grounding right action in scripture. The point is clear: act, but let higher guidance decide what right action is.
What it looks like today
A new judge, unsure about a hard case, goes back to the law books before ruling. Krishna asks Arjuna to do the same with dharma: know what scripture lays down, then act.
“You do not have to invent your own moral compass in the heat of confusion.”
Explore related themes: dharma (14 verses)