Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 21

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः | स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||

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

Whatever a superior person does, common people follow. Whatever standard they set, the world follows that.

Krishna reveals the power of example: 'yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhaḥ tat tad eva itaro janaḥ'—whatever leaders do, others follow. Not your words but your actions become the standard (pramāṇam). Verse 3.20 mentioned Janaka because his leadership mattered through living dharma, not preaching it. If you're in any position of influence—parent, boss, teacher—you're setting standards whether you intend to or not. 'Sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate'—the world (lokaḥ) follows whatever standard you establish.