Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 - Karma Yoga - Sloka 20

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Chidbhavananda's translation of The Bhagavad Gita, published by Ramakrishna Mission.

What the spiritual aspirant must do - sloka 19-26

1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 3 -Karma Yoga - Sloka 20

Karmana aiva hi samsiddhim asthitah janaka adayah I

loka sangraham eva pi sampasyam kartum arhasi II sloka 20 

कर्मणा ऐव हि संसिद्धिं आस्थितः जनक आदयः I

लोक संग्रहं एव पी संपस्यं कर्तुं अर्हसि  II श्लोक २० 

Janaka and others indeed achieved perfection by action; having an eye to the guidance of men also should perform action. 

 Raja rishis such as Janaka and Asvapati were engaged in the active and efficient administration of their kingdoms. Incidentally they took part in several other activities conducive to people's welfare. But their aim in life was more than that. They diligently applied themselves to self-knowledge and got it.


There is an additional advantage in the spiritually enlightened taking to altruistic work. The ignorant cannot guide society any more than the blind can lead the blind.  But the enlightened are the best servants of society. The nature of karma is also very well known to them. Efficient work on right lines can be turned out by them. Following in their wake, ordinary set themselves to their duties in all earnestness. Taking this important factor into account, the elite should ever engage themselves in the discharge of their dharma to the best of theri ability. 


The world goes its way waiting for guidance from nobody. A pertinent question may therefore be put whether concern for the world is not a self -created problem. This doubt is  met in the next sloka.