Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 20

English Translation

For Janaka and others strove to attain Liberation through action itself. You ought to perform (your duties) keeping also in view the prevention of mankind from going astray.

Detailed Commentary

3.20. Commentary—In 'karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ', the word 'ādi' signifies 'of the type'. Here, 'janakādayaḥ' refers to great souls like King Janaka, who attained supreme perfection (parama siddhi) by performing action (karma) selflessly (niṣkāma bhāva) while remaining householders (gṛhastha). Such great souls existed before and after King Janaka as well. Karma Yoga is very ancient. Through this Yoga, many great souls have attained the Supreme Being (Paramātmā). In the present and future also, whoever desires to attain Paramātmā through Karma Yoga should not consider worldly objects as their own. These objects truly belong to the world. If one dedicates them to the service of the world, the attainment of Paramātmā becomes easy. 'Karmaṇā eva' is connected to the previous verse's 'asakto hyācaran karma'. By performing actions without attachment (āsakti), a person becomes free from the bondage of karma (karmabandhana), not merely by performing them. In the style of the Gītā, the Lord briefly reiterates previous points. Here, 'yogena eva' could have been used instead of 'karmaṇā eva'. Arjuna's insistence was on renouncing actions, which is why the term 'karmaṇā eva' is used. Truly, the attainment of Paramātmā does not happen through inert actions. Generally, humans obtain worldly objects through actions, but the attainment of Paramātmā does not occur in the same manner. Karma Yoga exists to remove the obstacles that hinder the experience of Paramātmā. The human species (manusya yoni) has a close relationship with actions (karma). It desires to attain desired objects through actions. It has formed the notion that everything is obtained only through actions. But the attainment of Paramātmā does not happen through actions. This is profoundly important to understand. Actions have a beginning and an end, therefore their fruits (phala) are also impermanent, subject to creation and destruction. Worldly objects are attainable through action (karma-sādhya). However, Paramātmā is all-pervading (paripūrṇa) and His attainment is self-evident (svataḥsiddha), not action-dependent (karma-sādhya). The acquisition of worldly objects does not happen through mere thought, but thought is primary in the attainment of Paramātmā. The experience of Paramātmā arises as soon as one relinquishes thoughts of the world. Paramātmā is not distant from us. The ultimate truth is that Paramātmā can be attained by mere desire (icchāmātra). This very aspiration can awaken if the attainment of Bhagavān (Bhagavatprāpti) is the sole purpose of life. The purpose of human life is not the accumulation of worldly objects. One should perform actions (karma) relinquishing desires (icchāeṁ) for the attainment of Paramātmā. Performing actions without desiring their fruits (phala) is indeed Niṣkāma Karma Yoga. This is the means to reach Paramātmā. 'Lokasaṅgraha' means to perform actions selflessly (niṣkāma bhāva) for the welfare of the world (loka-kalyāṇa). To turn people away from untruth (asat) and towards truth (sat) through one's conduct is a great service. Lokasaṅgraha implies maintaining the social order (lokamaryādā). Every human being owes a debt to others, which can only be repaid through service. The Lord will explain in the next verse how lokasaṅgraha is achieved through action.