Bhagavad Gita 3.21
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः। स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते॥
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate
Meaning
For whatever a great man does, others imitate; people conform to the standard he has set.
Understanding this verse
Simple meaning
Krishna says that whatever a respected person does, others follow. The standard they set becomes the standard for everyone around them.
In real life
A manager who leaves on time and respects weekends gives her team permission to do the same, and burnout drops across the team.
An elder sibling who reads every night unknowingly turns the younger one into a reader too.
Try this today: Think of one person who looks up to you. What is one habit you'd want them to copy? Practise it visibly.
What's your duvidha?
English translation by Shri Purohit Swami (1935), public domain. Sanskrit text in the public domain. About Duvidha