Practice with faith turns teaching into freedom.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः |श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः ||३-३१||
ye me matamidaṃ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ . śraddhāvanto.anasūyanto mucyante te.api karmabhiḥ ||3-31||
Use this verse when doubt stops you from practicing.
Meaning
Those people who constantly follow this teaching of Mine with faith and without fault-finding are freed from the bondage of actions.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Faithful practice of Karma Yoga frees a person from bondage.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
Krishna emphasizes practice, not merely agreement. Those who live this teaching with faith and openness are freed from karmic bondage. Faith here is not blind belief; it is sincere trust that allows practice. Fault-finding blocks learning when it becomes ego-defense. This verse is ideal for encouraging people to practice one teaching daily instead of only reading.
Read the traditional commentary
Krishna offers reassurance and a promise. Those who constantly follow his teaching — practising selfless, surrendered action — with shraddha (faith) and anasuya (freedom from carping or cynicism), are liberated from the binding power of karma, just as surely as the great realized souls.
Two qualities are singled out as essential: faith and an open, non-fault-finding attitude. Faith is not blind belief but trust enough to actually live the teaching, and freedom from cavilling means approaching it without cynical resistance. With these, even ordinary people walking the path are released.
The word api, 'too,' is gracious: this liberation is not reserved for sages alone but available to every sincere practitioner. The path is open to all who will take it up with a trusting and receptive heart, steadily putting it into practice rather than merely admiring it from afar.
In daily life
Apply the teaching sincerely before judging whether it works.
A person cannot benefit from meditation if they only criticize it and never practice consistently.
Try this today
Choose one teaching and practice it for seven days without cynicism.
I practice with faith and openness.Reflect
Where do I criticize before practicing?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘अनसूयन्तः’ mean in this verse?
The Gita on faith, in other chapters
- Verse 18.71Even hearing sacred truth with faith and without cynicism uplifts and liberates the soul.
- Verse 9.1The highest wisdom reveals itself only to a mind that is open and free of cynicism, and it must be lived, not merely understood.
- Verse 13.26Even simple, faithful trust in the teachings of the wise can carry a sincere heart beyond death.
- Verse 10.17 · ArjunaThe mind needs concrete supports to fix itself on the Divine — so ask, with Arjuna, where to rest your attention.
Swipe left for 3.32 · Question sincerely, but do not hide behind criticism.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 3.31
Who says Bhagavad Gita 3.31, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 3.31, in Chapter 3, Karma Yoga (Karma Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 3.31 mean?
Those people who constantly follow this teaching of Mine with faith and without fault-finding are freed from the bondage of actions. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 3.31 for daily life?
Apply the teaching sincerely before judging whether it works. A person cannot benefit from meditation if they only criticize it and never practice consistently.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 3.31 mean?
ये मे मतम् इदम् — those who this teaching of Mine; नित्यम् अनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः — constantly practise, those people; श्रद्धावन्तः — full of faith; अनसूयन्तः — free from cavilling / fault-finding; मुच्यन्ते ते अपि कर्मभिः — they too are freed from (the bondage of) actions.
Where does verse 3.31 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 31 of 43 in Chapter 3, Karma Yoga. The next verse is 3.32.