कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः ।
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
राजा जनकजैसे अनेक महापुरुष भी कर्मके द्वारा ही परमसिद्धिको प्राप्त हुए हैं । इसलिये लोकसंग्रहको देखते हुए भी तू निष्कामभावसे कर्म करनेके योग्य है ॥
English
Janaka and others attained perfection through action itself. You should act too, while keeping the welfare of the world in view.
What this verse means
Great people like Janaka reached perfection by acting, not by withdrawing. You should also act for the good of the world.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield at Kurukshetra, Arjuna is still frozen. Krishna points to King Janaka and other great figures as proof that spiritual fulfilment did not come from inaction. The teaching now turns from private hesitation to public responsibility.
Why this verse still matters
You are tempted to step back because your decision affects others and you want to stay clean. Krishna says the cleaner move is to act well, because someone else is counting on your example.
The takeaway
It can feel steadying to know that full engagement, not escape, is the mature path.
Word-by-word translation
कर्मणा (through action) / एव (indeed) / हि (for) / संसिद्धिम् (perfection) / आस्थिता (having attained) / जनकादयः (Janaka and others) / लोकसंग्रहम् (the holding-together of the world) / एव (indeed) / अपि (also) / संपश्यन् (seeing) / कर्तुम् (to do) / अर्हसि (you are fit)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), duty (13 verses), nishkama karma (12 verses)