Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.20 कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः
श्लोक 3.20
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः ।
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ |
lokasaṃgrahamevāpi sampaśyankartumarhasi ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
जनक आदि ज्ञानीजन भी कर्म के द्वारा ही परम सिद्धि को प्राप्त हुए थे। लोक-कल्याण (लोकसंग्रह) को देखते हुए भी तुम्हें कर्म करना ही चाहिए।
Meaning in English
Janaka and others reached perfection through action alone. And keeping in view the welfare and guidance of the world, you too should act.
Bhagavad Gita 3.20 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कर्मणा | karmaṇā | through action |
| एव | eva | alone, indeed |
| हि | hi | for |
| संसिद्धिम् | saṃsiddhim | perfection |
| आस्थिताः | āsthitāḥ | attained |
| जनकादयः | janaka-ādayaḥ | Janaka and others |
| लोकसंग्रहम् | loka-saṃgraham | the welfare and holding together of the world |
| एव अपि | eva api | also, even |
| सम्पश्यन् | sampaśyan | considering |
| कर्तुम् | kartum | to act |
| अर्हसि | arhasi | you ought |
Explanation
Janaka and others reached perfection through action itself. And even with an eye to the welfare of the world, you ought to act.
King Janaka of Videha, famous in the Upanishads as a sage who ruled, is the model of the enlightened person who kept working. The verse introduces lokasangraha, holding the world together, a key Gita idea. Shankara suggests Janaka and others either attained liberation while acting or acted to purify the mind, and continued for the world's sake. Tilak made lokasangraha central to his reading of the Gita as a call to public action.
भावार्थ
जनक आदि ज्ञानीजन भी कर्म के द्वारा ही परम सिद्धि को प्राप्त हुए थे। लोकसंग्रह (लोक-कल्याण) को देखते हुए भी तुम्हें कर्म करना ही उचित है।
Living it today
Even when you do not need something for yourself, others may need you to do it. Let the common good be reason enough.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.20?
Janaka and others reached perfection through action itself. And even with an eye to the welfare of the world, you ought to act.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.20?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.20 in daily life?
Even when you do not need something for yourself, others may need you to do it. Let the common good be reason enough.
Reflected on verse 3.20?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.