प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु | तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ||३-२९||
prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu . tānakṛtsnavido mandānkṛtsnavinna vicālayet ||3-29||
Chapter 3 · Verse 29
Karma Yoga
कर्मयोग
In plain words
You must show patience and compassion toward people who are still driven by material desires. Do not disrupt their beliefs or force them into deep philosophy. Instead, encourage them to perform their dharma, or righteous duty, with care. By gently guiding them, you help purify their minds so they can eventually discover the peace of jnana, which is spiritual knowledge.
Translation
3.29 Those who are deluded by the Gunas of Prakrti are attached to the works of the Gunas. But he who knows the whole truth should not unsettle the ignorant who do not know the whole truth.
Meaning
The ignorant people do action with the expectation of fruits. The wise people who have the knowledge of the Self should not distract the faith or conviction or belief of such ignorant persons. If they unsettle their minds they will give up actions and become victims of inertia. They will lead an idle life. They should be encouraged by the wise to do actions of the Sakama type (actions for the sake of their fruits) in the beginning. The wise ones should turn the minds of the ignorant by giving them gradual instructions on Karma Yoga (Yoga of selfless desireless action) and its benefits viz. purification of the heart that leads to the attainment of Selfrealisation.
Word by word
प्रकृतेः of nature गुणसंमूढाः persons deluded by the Gunas सज्जन्ते are attached गुणकर्मसु in the functions of the alities तान् those अकृत्स्नविदः of imperfect knowledge मन्दान् the foolish (thedullwitted) कृत्स्नवित् man of perfect knowledge न not विचालयेत् should unsettle.