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Bhagavad-gītā 3.20

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः । लोकसङ्ग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ २० ॥
karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim
[karmanaiva hi samsiddhim]
āsthitā janakādayaḥ
[aasthitaa janakaadayah]
loka-saṅgraham evāpi
[loka-sangraham evaapi]
sampaśyan kartum arhasi
[sampashyan kartum arhasi]
Word-for-word
karmaṇā — by work eva — even hi — certainly saṁsiddhim — in perfection āsthitāḥ — situated janaka - ādayaḥ — Janaka and other kings loka - saṅgraham — the people in general eva api — also sampaśyan — considering kartum — to act arhasi — you deserve .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim
karmaṇā
by work
āsthitā janakādayaḥ
loka-saṅgraham evāpi
eva
even
hi
certainly
sampaśyan kartum arhasi
saṁsiddhim
in perfection
āsthitāḥ
situated
janaka - ādayaḥ
Janaka and other kings
loka - saṅgraham
the people in general
eva api
also
sampaśyan
considering
kartum
to act
arhasi
you deserve .
Important Words
  • saṁsiddhim — in perfection
    Sam-siddhi — completed perfection. The same siddhi denied to anārambha in 3.4 is here delivered through full engagement. The contrast is exact.
  • janaka - ādayaḥ — Janaka and other kings
    Compound: Janaka + ādi (etc.). Kṛṣṇa names not just one figure but a *lineage* of karma-yogī kings — Janaka, Aśvapati, Dhṛtarāṣṭra-grandfather Pratīpa, and others. The path is well-trodden, not freakish.
  • loka - saṅgraham — the people in general
    Compound: loka (world) + saṅgraha (gathering, holding-together). Not just *welfare* — the active *holding-together* of society. The karma-yogī's work is structural, not merely charitable.
  • sampaśyan — considering, fully seeing
    Present participle of sam-√paś, to fully see. Not mere intention — sustained, eyes-open seeing of the welfare of the world. The verse asks for kept vision, not a passing thought.
Kings such as Janaka attained perfection solely by performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Precedent + responsibility. Janaka — a king and jñānin — attained perfection while ruling, proving karma-yoga's adequacy. Even setting aside personal need, Arjuna owes action to society: loka-saṅgraha.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
King Janaka of Videha is the paradigmatic karma-yogin in the wisdom tradition — a self-realized monarch who never abandoned his throne. 'Loka-saṅgraha' (gathering / holding together the world) becomes a central Bhāgavata ethical category: action as social cohesion. The next verse (3.21) explains why a leader's example matters disproportionately.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
जनक-आदयः हि कर्मणा एव संसिद्धिम् आस्थिताः; लोक-सङ्ग्रहम् एव अपि सम्पश्यन् कर्तुम् अर्हसि।
janaka-ādayaḥ hi karmaṇā eva saṃsiddhim āsthitāḥ; loka-saṅgraham eva api sampaśyan kartum arhasi|
Indeed Janaka and others attained perfection by action alone; you too, even keeping in view the welfare of the world (lokasaṅgraha), ought to act.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
कर्मणा एव हि संसिद्धिम् आस्थिताः जनक-आदयः । लोक-सङ्ग्रहम् एव अपि सम्पश्यन् कर्तुम् अर्हसि ॥
karmaṇā eva hi saṃsiddhim āsthitāḥ janaka-ādayaḥ | loka-saṅgraham eva api sampaśyan kartum arhasi ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
कर्मणा karmaṇā कर्मन् (n.) ins.sg. (instrumental singular) by action
एव eva ind. (indeclinable), emphatic alone
हि hi ind. (indeclinable), causal for, indeed
संसिद्धिम् saṃsiddhim संसिद्धि (f.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) complete perfection
आस्थिताः āsthitāḥ आ+√स्था p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.pl. (nominative plural)m. attained, established in
जनक-आदयः janaka-ādayaḥ जनक + आदि nom.pl. (nominative plural)m., bahuvrīhi cpd. (compound) Janaka and others
लोक-सङ्ग्रहम् loka-saṅgraham लोक + सङ्ग्रह acc.sg. (accusative singular), tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) welfare / holding-together of the world
एव eva ind. (indeclinable), emphatic indeed
अपि api ind. (indeclinable), even / also even, also
सम्पश्यन् sampaśyan सम्+√दृश् pres. (present)act.part. nom.sg. (nominative singular)m. considering, looking at
कर्तुम् kartum √कृ inf. (infinitive) to act
अर्हसि arhasi √अर्ह् pres. (present) 2sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) you ought, are fit
Purport

Kings like Janaka were all self-realized souls; consequently they had no obligation to perform the prescribed duties in the Vedas. Nonetheless they performed all prescribed activities just to set examples for the people in general. Janaka was the father of Sītā and father-in-law of Lord Śrī Rāma. Being a great devotee of the Lord, he was transcendentally situated, but because he was the king of Mithilā (a subdivision of Bihar province in India), he had to teach his subjects how to perform prescribed duties. Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, the Lord’s eternal friend, had no need to fight in the Battle of Kurukṣetra, but they fought to teach people in general that violence is also necessary in a situation where good arguments fail. Before the Battle of Kurukṣetra, every effort was made to avoid the war, even by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the other party was determined to fight. So for such a right cause, there is a necessity for fighting. Although one who is situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness may not have any interest in the world, he still works to teach the public how to live and how to act. Experienced persons in Kṛṣṇa consciousness can act in such a way that others will follow, and this is explained in the following verse.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
20. Just by performance of prescribed actions, Janaka and others attained success. And just with the consideration of setting example for others, you should perform prescribed work.
Commentary

He gives proof of such actions in the first part of the verse. In the second part of the verse he says that if you think that you are qualified for jñāna, even then, you should perform action in order to teach the people.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
20. By prescribed actions as well as hearing, Janaka and others attained realization of ātmā. And just with the consideration of setting example for others, you should perform work.
Commentary

In this verse the Lord gives proof of acting according to duty. Becoming pure in heart by means of prescribed action (karmaṇā eva), Janaka and others attained (ātshitāḥ) the perfection of seeing their own ātmā (saṁsiddhim). The word eva with karmaṇā, used to make distinction, indicating its excellence, rather that indicating complete separateness (as in the use of the word “only”). Thus prescribed actions of karma yoga do not exclude hearing and other devotional processes. Some say karma in this context has a more general meaning of hearing and other processes along with performance of sacrifice and other prescribed rites of karma, instead of prescribed duties. “But you have said that when the saniṣṭha devotee attains vision of ātmā, here is no performance of action to see ātmā. Then why are you giving instructions to perform duties to Me who am fixed in seeing my ātmā and paramātmā (pari niṣṭhita devotee)?” “Yes, you are such a pari niṣṭḥita devotee, but to teach the common people, I give you instructions to perform action. If both Arjuna and I perform prescribed actions, other people will also perform their prescribed duties. If I did not perform prescribed actions, ignorant people, following My example, would reject action and fall down. Protecting the people is the result of this type of action.”

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Commentary

Now Krsna is going to explain this point about educating the people in general and the reason why performing one's prescribed duty is necessary to help people in general. Krsna is explaining here that one work to set a good example and if one renounces work and goes to the forest as Arjuna was sujjesting, then people will follow that example and they will fall down because their hearts are not yet clean.

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: Such great people or purified souls perform prescribed duties without attachment to set

the proper example for the common man

Why a self-realized soul works (3.20 – 3.21):
To set the example e.g. Janaka Maharaja
How he works (3.19):
With detachment from fruits
As a matter of duty, under proper guidance
For Krishna
Benefits of such work (3.19):
One attains the Supreme
2 examples of leaders who perform their duties just to “set an example”
Janaka Maharaja (3.20)
Krishna, Himself as a householder (3.22 – 3.24)
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
3.20 Hi, for; in the olden days, the leaned Ksatriyas, janakadayah, Janaka and others such as Asvapati; asthitah, strove to attain; samsiddim, Liberation; karmana eva, through action itself. If it be that they were possessed of the fullest realization, then the meaning is that they remained established in Liberation whlile continuing, because of past momentum, to be associated with action itself-without renouncing it-with a veiw to preventing mankind from going astray. Again, if (it be that) Janaka and others had not attained fullest realization, then, they gradually became established in Liberation through action which is a means for the purification of the mind. The verse is to be explained thus. On the other hand, if you think, 'Obligatory duty was performed even by Janaka and others of olden days who were surely unenlightened. [Ajanadbhih: This is also translated as, 'surely because they were unenlightened'.-Tr.] There by it does not follow that action has to be undertaken by somody else who has the fullest enlightenment and has reached his Goal', nevertheless, tvam, you, who are under the influence of past actions; arhasi, ought; kartum, to perform (your duties); sampasyan api, keeping also in view; loka-sangraham, [V.S.A gives the meanings of the phrase as 'the welfare of the world', and 'propitiation of mankind'.-Tr. ] the prevention of mankind from going astray; even that purpose. By whom, and how, is mankind to be prevented from going astray? That is being stated: [In Ast. this introductory sentence is as follows:loka-samgrahah kimartham kartavyam iti ucyate.-Tr.]
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
3.20 It is also declared that Karma Yoga alone Janaka and others reached perfection. Because, Karma Yoga is the best means for securing the vision of the self even for a person who is alified for Jnana Yoga, royal sages like Janaka and others, who are foremost among the Jnanins, preferred Karma Yoga as the means for attaining perfection. Thus, having first declared previously that Karma Yoga must be practised by an aspirant for release who is alified for Karma Yoga alone, as he is unfit for Jnana Yoga, it was next stated with reasons that, even for one who is alified for Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga is better than Jnana Yoga Now it is going to be declared (in verses 20-26) that Karma Yoga must be performed in every way by one who is virtuous. At least for the guidance of the world, you should do work even if there is no need of it for yourself.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
3.20 Karman=aiva etc. Therefore, janaka and others are examples for the fact that emancipation is even for those who perform action.
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
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.
Commentary

3.20 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.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.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
3.20 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.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
3.20 King Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone. Even for the sake of enlightening the world, it is thy duty to act;
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)
Related verses
BG 3.25 BG 4.15 BG 2.31 SB 9.13.27 SB 7.11.7 SB 5.1.17 CC Madhya 20.58 CC Madhya 22.138 CC Antya 3.180 Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 4.3.1Īśa Upaniṣad 2
Stories
tyaga_epic_primary
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Janaka and others attained perfection by action alone — even thinking of the welfare of the world, you should perform action.
Practical Applications
  • Honor public service as a legitimate path to perfection, not a lesser one.
  • Look to Janaka as a model — full responsibility, full transcendence.
  • Consider how your visible action sets an example for others.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose example does my conduct unintentionally model for others?
  • What does 'lokasaṅgraha' (welfare of the world) require of me?
Analogy

A lighthouse-keeper who has long since memorized the coast still climbs the stairs every dusk and lights the lamp — not for himself, but because ships depend on the rhythm. Janaka kept ruling for exactly that reason.

Stories
Janaka the Royal Sage

Of the many Janakas in the Rāmāyaṇa-Mahābhārata cycle, the line is so famous for combining royal duty with self-realization that the dynastic name itself became a byword for rāja-ṛṣi. Sītā's father Janaka conversed with the great Yājñavalkya on equal footing in the Bṛhad-āraṇyaka Upaniṣad; another Janaka instructed Śuka.

Kṛṣṇa names Janaka here in 3.20 as proof that perfection is reachable through karma alone — not by abandoning the kingdom but by ruling it as offering. The verse pairs personal saṁsiddhi with loka-saṅgraha: the king's own perfection and the people's welfare arise together.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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