3:20श्रीभगवानुवाच

Karma Yoga

कर्म योग

Sanskrit Shloka

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः। लोकसङ्ग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि॥ 3:20॥

Padacheeda (Word-by-Word)

कर्मणा एव हि सम्‌-सिद्धिम्-आस्थिता जनक-आदयः। लोक-सङ्ग्रहम् एव अपि सम्-पश्यन् कर्तुम् अर्हसि।।

Anvaya (Construction)

जनक-आदयः (जनक एवं अन्य) कर्मणा (कर्म से) एव (ही) सम्-सिद्धिम्-आस्थिता (संसिद्धि को प्राप्त हुए) हि (इसलिए) लोक-सङ्ग्रहम् (लोक-संग्रह को) सम्-पश्यन् (देखते हुए) अपि (भी) कर्तुम् (कर्म करने को) एव (ही) अर्हसि (योग्य है)।

Meaning

Hindi

जनक-जैसे राजाओं ने {आसक्ति-रहित} कर्म द्वारा ही परमसिद्धि प्राप्त की। इसलिए लोकसंग्रह (लोक-कल्याण और लोक-शिक्षण) के लिए भी तुम्हारे लिए कर्म करना ही उचित है।


English

People like {King} Janaka attained the highest spiritual goal through detached action. You should also act {and fight the battle} for the public good, {even if not for personal gain or loss, which seems to be your primary concern at the moment}. (3:20)

Commentary

English

Arjuna has been thinking of the war in terms of his relationships and the consequences on his clan and family, to which he seems emotionally too attached. He does not seem to be equally considering the more significant public dimension of the war at hand. It's worth noting that after emphasizing the importance of being "selfless," God now urges Arjuna and others to act for "Loka- Sangraha," which broadly means working for the welfare of the people. Such a call to philanthropy is rarely found elsewhere.