Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 20

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः ।
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

Transliteration

karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ .
lokasaṃgrahamevāpi sampaśyankartumarhasi ॥

Meaning

Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone. Keeping in view the welfare of the world as well, you too ought to act.

Word meanings

कर्मणा – by action
एव – alone
हि – indeed
संसिद्धिम् – perfection
आस्थिताः – attained, reached
जनकादयः – Janaka and others
लोकसंग्रहम् – the welfare of the world
एव अपि – also, even
सम्पश्यन् – keeping in view
कर्तुम् – to act
अर्हसि – you ought

Anvaya (word order)

जनकादयः कर्मणा एव हि संसिद्धिम् आस्थिताः; लोकसंग्रहम् एव अपि सम्पश्यन् (त्वम्) कर्तुम् अर्हसि ।

Explanation

The Lord now offers Arjuna the example of Janaka and others as ideals. Janaka was a king, yet he was called Videha, ‘bodiless’, because even while bearing the weight of a kingdom he was free of body-identification. Others like Ashvapati and Ambarisha too reached perfection while engaged in action. This means that giving up action is not essential for liberation.

Shankara points to two possibilities: either Janaka and the rest gained purity of mind through action and attained knowledge, or after attaining knowledge they continued to act for the good of the world. In either case their action did not bind. Ramanuja takes this as proof of the efficacy of Karma Yoga itself.

‘Loka-sangraha’ is the second important word. It means holding society together on the path of dharma, preventing it from disintegrating. What a great person does, people imitate; so his conduct becomes a direction for others. If Arjuna abandons duty, others too will be misled.

Thus duty is not only a means to personal liberation but also a responsibility toward society.

Context

After teaching unattached action in 3.19, the Lord gives historical examples. Here begins the idea of loka-sangraha, which is developed in 3.21 to 3.26.

Life lesson

Your conduct becomes an example to others, unknowingly. By fulfilling your duty you not only advance yourself but also lend stability to society.

Key terms

Samsiddhi: full perfection; a state equal to liberation
Janaka: king of Videha, ideal of the wise king who acts
Loka-sangraha: welfare of the world; holding society firmly to dharma