Bhagavad Gita 3.20
Karma Yoga · English Translation
Sanskrit
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः | लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ||३-२०||
Transliteration
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ . lokasaṃgrahamevāpi sampaśyankartumarhasi ||3-20||
Janaka and others attained perfection verily by action only; even with a view to the protection of the masses thou shouldst perform action.
Word by Word
कर्मणा by action, एव only, हि verily, संसिद्धिम् perfection, आस्थिताः attained, जनकादयः Janaka and others, लोकसंग्रहम् protection of the masses, एवापि only, संपश्यन् having in view, कर्तुम् to perform, अर्हसि thou shouldst
Classical Commentary
Samsiddhi is Moksha (perfection or liberation). Janaka? (Asvapati) and others had perfect knowledge of the Self, and yet they performed actions in order to set an example to the masses. They worked for the guidance of men.