Bhagavad Gita Chapter 16 Verse 24 Meaning

Therefore, let the scripture be thy authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures, thou shouldst act in this world.

BG 16.24

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ।ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि

tasmāch chhāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau jñātvā śhāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi

Meaning

Therefore, let the scripture be thy authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done. Having known what is said in the ordinance of the scriptures, thou shouldst act in this world.

Available in 27 languages

What Does Bhagavad Gita 16.24 Mean?

Krishna makes a practical concession to the reality of human confusion: when you cannot determine right action through intuition or discernment alone, let scripture be your guide. The word 'shastra' here means the accumulated wisdom tradition — tested, refined, and transmitted across generations. This is not blind obedience to text but recognition that individual judgment is often clouded by desire, fear, and conditioning.

Scripture provides a stable reference point when internal clarity is lacking. This teaching also implicitly values the role of tradition and community in spiritual life. No one is expected to reinvent morality from scratch. Practically, this verse is relevant whenever you face a genuinely confusing ethical situation. Before relying solely on personal feeling — which may be distorted by self-interest — consult the wisdom of those who came before.

This does not mean abandoning critical thinking but supplementing it with the accumulated insight of sages. The Gita never asks for blind faith, but it does recommend humility before tested wisdom.

— Explained by the Nitya Team

What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 16.24?

The qualities that lead to liberation versus those that lead to bondage.

Key themes in this chapter include Divine qualities, Demoniac qualities, Character.

How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 16.24 in Daily Life?

  • •When you need steadiness while dealing with divine qualities
  • •When practicing demoniac qualities amid uncertainty
  • •When applying character to real-life choices

Verse FAQs

What is the main idea of Bhagavad Gita 16.24?
Krishna makes a practical concession to the reality of human confusion: when you cannot determine right action through intuition or discernment alone, let scripture be your guide. The word 'shastra' here means the accumulated wisdom tradition — tested, refined, and transmitted across generations....
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 16.24 in daily life?
Apply this teaching when making choices or doing your duties. Focus on demoniac qualities and keep your mind steady regardless of outcomes.

Related Verses

BG 16.1

The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness.

BG 16.2

Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion for beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, and absence of fickleness.

BG 1.1

Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"

Read in Other Languages

EnglishHindiMarathiGujarati
← Back to Chapter 16: The Yoga of Divine and Demoniac Natures

Build a daily reading habit with Nitya

Get the Free App