Bhagavad Gita 3.20कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः।लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
karmaṇaiva hi sansiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ
loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśhyan kartum arhasi
Sanskrit recitation
Lead by how you live · 3.17–3.29 · Teaching
Translation
Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention of protecting the masses, you should perform action.
Hindi translation
राजा जनक-जैसे अनेक महापुरुष भी कर्मके द्वारा ही परमसिद्धिको प्राप्त हुए हैं। इसलिये लोकसंग्रहको देखते हुए भी तू (निष्कामभावसे) कर्म करनेके योग्य है।
Meaning
Samsiddhi is Moksha (perfection or liberation). Janaka, (Asvapati) and others had perfect knowledge of the Self, and yet they performed actions in order to set an example to the masses. They worked for the guidance of men.
After Swami Sivananda
Lead by how you live· 3.17–3.29→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 3.17But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is…
- 3.18For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend…
- 3.19Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by…
3.20Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention…
- 3.21Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the…
- 3.22There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there…
- 3.23For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way…
- 3.24These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion…
- 3.25As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without…
- 3.26Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he…
- 3.27All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is…
- 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities…
- 3.29Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities.…
Word-by-word→
- hi
- certainly
- eva
- only
- arhasi
- you should
- kartum
- to perform
- eva api
- only
- karmaṇā
- by the performance of prescribed duties
- sansiddhim
- perfection
- sampaśhyan
- considering
- āsthitāḥ
- attained
- janaka-ādayaḥ
- King Janak and other kings
- loka-saṅgraham
- for the welfare of the masses
Related verses
- 18.48One should not, O Arjuna, abandon the duty to which one is born, though it may be faulty;…
- 3.9The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do…
- 2.33But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and…
- 9.30Even if the most sinful worships Me, with devotion to no one else, he should indeed be…