Bhagavad Gita 3.20
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 20 of 43
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः । लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ | loka-saṃgraham evāpi sampaśyan kartum arhasi ||
Janaka attained perfection through action — not despite it. Act for the welfare of the world (lokasaṃgraha).
Word by word (3)
- karmaṇaiva saṃsiddhim āsthitāḥ
- — through action alone they attained perfection · Karmaṇā = by action (instrumental case). Eva = alone, precisely. Saṃsiddhi = full perfection, complete accomplishment (sam+siddhi). Āsthitā = having attained, established in. Janaka and other king-sages attained saṃsiddhi — complete spiritual perfection — through action, while ruling kingdoms, not through withdrawal.
- janakādayaḥ
- — Janaka and others like him · Janaka = the philosopher-king of Mithila, father of Sita, a paradigmatic figure of karma-yoga in Indian tradition. He was simultaneously a perfect ruler who administered his kingdom with absolute justice AND a fully Self-realized jñāni. The Gita holds him up as proof that action-in-the-world and spiritual perfection are compatible.
- loka-saṃgraham sampaśyan
- — having regard for the welfare of the world · Loka = world. Saṃgraha = holding together, welfare, maintenance, protection. Sampaśyan = seeing completely, having in view. This is the first appearance of lokasaṃgraha — arguably the Gita's most important social concept. Even if you have nothing personally to gain, act for the welfare and cohesion of the world.
Janaka and other great ones attained perfection through action alone. You should also perform action — with your eye on the welfare and cohesion of the world.
A modern analogy
Mandela governed South Africa — administration, negotiations, the messy work of governance — and through that engagement, his character reached its fullest expression. Not despite the action but through it. And after Robben Island had freed him internally, he continued for lokasaṃgraha — because the world needed the wheel turned.
Take with you
- Lokasaṃgraha — 'welfare of the world' — is the reason to act even when you personally have nothing to gain.
- Janaka is the Gita's proof that kingly responsibility and spiritual perfection are not in conflict.
- The argument for engagement: even if you are spiritually advanced, your withdrawal removes a needed hand from the wheel.
- This verse is the answer to every 'I'll just do my own practice and not engage with the messy world' impulse.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone. Having regard to the welfare of the world, thou shouldst perform action. [1]
Janaka and others attained perfection by action alone; considering also the welfare of the world, thou shouldst perform action. [4]
Janaka and others attained perfection through action; thou shouldst also do action, having regard to the welfare of mankind. [6]
Yea! let the wise man hold himself in check, And be as one who shows the path of good To those less perfect; nor let aught divert His soul from doing, since the cause of all, Himself, must be its spring. [7]
Janaka and others attained perfection through action; thou shouldst also perform action, looking to the welfare of the world. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Whatever the great one does, others follow. The standard they set — the world adopts. Lead by example.
The wise act like the unwise — same actions, same engagement — but without attachment, for the world's welfare.
Actions don't taint Me — I have no longing for their fruits. Whoever knows Me thus is not bound by their actions.
Krishna: I have nothing to gain anywhere — yet I act. The model for pure action done for the world.
If even I stopped acting, humans would follow. The great one's withdrawal is never neutral.
If the great one withdraws, the worlds collapse and they become the cause of chaos — not a neutral bystander.
Verse 20 of 43 · back to Chapter 3