Chapter 4 · Verse 12

Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः। क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा

kāṅkṣhantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ kṣhipraṁ hi mānuṣhe loke siddhir bhavati karmajā

Word Meanings

kāṅkṣhantaḥ — desiring; karmaṇām — material activities; siddhim — success; yajante — worship; iha — in this world; devatāḥ — the celestial gods; kṣhipram — quickly; hi — certainly; mānuṣhe — in human society; loke — within this world; siddhiḥ — rewarding; bhavati — manifest; karma-jā — from material activities

Language:

Translation

Those who desire the fruits of their actions worship the gods in this world, for success born of action comes swiftly in the realm of human beings.

Commentary

काङ्क्षन्तः those who long for? कर्मणाम् of actions? सिद्धिम् success? यजन्ते sacrifice? इह in this world? देवताः gods? क्षिप्रम् ickly? हि because? मानुषे in the human? लोके (in the) world? सिद्धिः success? भवति is attained? कर्मजा born of action.Commentary It is very difficult to attain to the knowledge of the Self or Selfrealisation. It demans perfect renunciation. The aspirnat should possess the four means and many other virtues? and practise constant and intense meditaion. But worldly success can be attained ickly and easily.