Responsibility — Lesson 6

Verses

Transliteration

karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ
loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśyan kartum arhasi

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate

Meaning

Even great people attained fulfillment through action. Therefore, you should act, keeping in mind the welfare of the world. Whatever a respected person does, others follow. The standards they set become the standard for society.

Key Words

• saṁsiddhi — fulfillment
• loka-saṅgraha — welfare and stability of society
• śreṣṭhaḥ — leader, respected person
• pramāṇam — standard, example
• anuvartate — follows

Teaching

Krishna expands responsibility beyond the individual. Action is not just personal. It has an impact on others. People observe, learn, and follow what they see. Especially those in visible roles — leaders, parents, teachers — shape behavior through their actions. Therefore, action must be responsible, not just for personal benefit, but for the larger good.

Connection to Responsibility

Responsibility includes awareness of influence. My actions affect not only me, but also others around me. Living responsibly means: acting in a way that supports harmony, clarity, and order in the larger system.

Reflection

Who is influenced by my actions? What example am I setting through the way I live?