Chapter 3 · Verse 20

Path of Selfless Service

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः। लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि

karmaṇaiva hi sansiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśhyan kartum arhasi

Word Meanings

karmaṇā — by the performance of prescribed duties; eva — only; hi — certainly; sansiddhim — perfection; āsthitāḥ — attained; janaka-ādayaḥ — King Janak and other kings; loka-saṅgraham — for the welfare of the masses; eva api — only; sampaśhyan — considering; kartum — to perform; arhasi — you should

Language:

Translation

By action alone, King Janaka and others attained perfection. You too should act, keeping in mind the welfare of the world.

Commentary

कर्मणा by action? एव only? हि verily? संसिद्धिम् perfection? आस्थिताः attained? जनकादयः Janaka and others? लोकसंग्रहम् protection of the masses? एवापि only? संपश्यन् having in view? कर्तुम् to perform? अर्हसि thou shouldst.Commentary 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.