yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate
Whatever actions great persons perform, common people follow. Whatever standards they set, all the world pursues.
Word by Word Meaning:
yat yat - whatever
ācharati - does
śhreṣhṭhaḥ - the best
tat tat - that (alone)
eva - certainly
itaraḥ - common
janaḥ - people
saḥ - they
yat - whichever
pramāṇam - standard
kurute - perform
lokaḥ - world
tat - that
anuvartate - pursues