**Duty According to the Gita**

Everyone should properly fulfill their own duties. Rather than dwelling on or speaking about what others are or aren't doing, we must focus on doing our own work correctly. When everyone performs their respective duties properly, all the world's work gets accomplished harmoniously.

Actions have a far greater impact on others than words—"yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ" (Gita 3/21)—"Whatever the exemplary person does, others follow suit. Whatever standards they establish, ordinary people conduct themselves accordingly." Therefore, nothing is achieved by mere words; one must demonstrate through action.

How is it possible for rain to fall through the performance of one's duty? When people properly fulfill their respective duties, it influences even the gods, inspiring them too to perform their duties and bring forth rain (Gita 3/11). There is an allegorical story about this.

There were four farmers. The month of Ashadh arrived, but seeing no rain, they began discussing how planting season had come. "What can we do if the rains haven't come? Let us continue performing our duties on time." With this thought, they went to their fields and began plowing. The peacocks, seeing them plow, began to wonder: "What's this? The rains haven't started yet, but they've begun plowing?" Then they learned that the farmers were fulfilling their duty, and the peacocks thought, "When the farmers are performing their duty, why should we lag behind?" With this thought, the peacocks too began their cries. Hearing the peacocks' calls, the clouds wondered, "Why are the peacocks crying without hearing my thunder?" Understanding the whole situation, the clouds thought, "Then why should I stay away from my duty?" The clouds too began to rumble. Hearing the thunder, Indra wondered, "What's happening here?" When he learned that everyone was performing their respective duties, Indra thought, "Why should I fall behind in performing my duty?" With this thought, he too commanded the clouds to begin raining.

We don't properly observe our own dharma, yet we tell others to follow theirs. What greater foolishness is there? It is not words but actions that reveal a person's true character.

The feeling that arises from wasting time instead of studying has a name: sorrow.
The suffering one must endure later as a consequence of not studying has a name: grief.