Chapter 3 · The Yoga of Action

श्रीकृष्णŚrī Kṛṣṇa speaks

Text 3.20

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादय: लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जन: स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते

karmaṇaiva hi sansiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśhyan kartum arhasi yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate

Recitation · Text 3.20
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Word-for-Word Śabda-Artha (25 words)

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Purport Overview & Key Insights

Krishna cites precedent: Janaka and others reached perfection through action itself — and then names a second, different reason to act, loka-saṅgraha, the holding-together of the world. Even one who needs nothing may act for everyone else's sake.

✨ Devotional Takeaway:A second reason to act appears here: not because you need anything, but because the world holds together when you do.