Bhagavad Gita BG 16.24
Chapter 16, Verse 24 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥
tasmat shastram pramanam te karya-akarya-vyavasthitau jnatva shastra-vidhanktam karma kartum iha 'rhasi
Meaning
Therefore let scripture be your authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Knowing the ordinance of scripture, you should perform action here.
Understanding
The closing instruction of Ch16: tasmat shastram pramanam te (let scripture be your authority). Karya-akarya-vyavasthitau (in determining what should be done and what should not). Jnatva shastra-vidhanktam karma kartum iharhasi (knowing the ordinance of scripture, you should perform action). The one freed from the 'triple gate of hell' needs a positive guide for action — and Krishna points to shastra (scripture, sacred teaching). The shastra is not rigid rule-following but the accumulated wisdom of the tradition as the guide for dharmic action.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| शास्त्रम् | shastram | scripture, sacred teaching, the authoritative text |
| प्रमाणम् | pramanam | authority, means of valid knowledge, standard |
| कार्याकार्य | karya-akarya | what should be done and what should not be done |
| व्यवस्थितौ | vyavasthitau | in determining, in the proper arrangement |
| विधानोक्तम् | vidhanktam | the ordinance proclaimed, the prescribed rule |
| तस्मात् | tasmāt | therefore |
| शास्त्रम् | śāstram | scripture |
| प्रमाणम् | pramāṇam | the authority |
| ते | te | for you |
| कार्य-अकार्य | kārya-akārya | what should and should not be done |
| ज्ञात्वा | jñātvā | having known |
| शास्त्र-विधानोक्तम् | śāstra-vidhānoktam | as prescribed by scriptural injunctions |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| कर्तुम् | kartum | to perform |
| इह | iha | here, in this world |
| अर्हसि | arhasi | you ought, you deserve |