Bhagavad Gita Chapter 12, Verse 10

Chapter 12 – Bhakti Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव ।
मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥

Transliteration

abhyāse.apyasamartho.asi matkarmaparamo bhava .
madarthamapi karmāṇi kurvansiddhimavāpsyasi ॥

Meaning

If you are unable even to practise, then be devoted to My work; even by performing actions for My sake you will attain perfection.

Word meanings

अभ्यासे अपि – even in practice
असमर्थः असि – you are incapable
मत्कर्मपरमः – one for whom My work is supreme
भव – be
मदर्थम् – for My sake
अपि – even
कर्माणि – actions
कुर्वन् – performing
सिद्धिम् – perfection
अवाप्स्यसि – you will attain

Anvaya (word order)

अभ्यासे अपि असमर्थः असि (चेत्), मत्कर्मपरमः भव; मदर्थम् अपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिम् अवाप्स्यसि ।

Explanation

The Lord's compassion becomes clearer in this verse. If even abhyasa yoga is hard, if the mind does not even give the strength to bring it back again and again, the next rung is easier still: matkarma-paramo bhava, make My work your highest. It means making the Lord the basis and purpose of your actions.

Madartham api karmani kurvan: even while doing actions for My sake. Note the word api, even: though you cannot meditate or practise, by merely acting for My sake perfection comes. This includes temple service, worship, chanting the Lord's name, spreading scripture, serving the poor, and all works in which the feeling is that this is for God. Ramanuja links it with works such as building a temple, laying out a flower garden, lighting a lamp. Shankara takes it as all actions done for the pleasure of the Lord.

The beauty of this path is that the seeker's nature need not be suppressed. To the person who is by nature active, the Lord says that very activity can become your sadhana if the direction is changed.

The fruit of action here is also siddhi, the same highest perfection the earlier paths give. So all three paths, direct offering of mind and intellect, practice, and action for the Lord, lead finally to one fruit.

Context

Verse 12.9 gave abhyasa yoga. Here the third option is action for the Lord's sake. In the next verse (12.11) comes the fourth and last option, renouncing the fruit of action.

Life lesson

For those to whom meditation is hard, the way of service is open. Whether it is your work, family duty or service to society, doing it for God makes the same action a sadhana.

Key terms

मत्कर्मपरम: one devoted to doing the Lord's work
मदर्थ कर्म: action done for the Lord's sake
सिद्धि: perfection, attainment of the Lord