👑 Even Kings Achieved Perfection Through Action | Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Shloka 20 Explained

📜 श्लोक (Sanskrit)

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः ।
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ 20 ॥

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🔤 IAST Transliteration

karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ
loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśyan kartum arhasi ॥ 20 ॥

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🇮🇳 हिन्दी अनुवाद (Hindi Translation)

कर्म के माध्यम से ही जनक आदि राजाओं ने सिद्धि (मोक्ष) प्राप्त की है। अतः तू भी लोकसंग्रह (लोक कल्याण) को दृष्टि में रखकर कर्म करना चाहिए।

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🌐 English Translation

Indeed, it is through action alone that even kings like Janaka attained perfection. Therefore, you should act, keeping in view the welfare of the world.

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🧠 व्याख्या (Detailed Explanation in Hindi)

इस श्लोक में श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुन को कर्म का महत्त्व बताते हुए कहते हैं कि:

• जनकादयः — जैसे राजा जनक और अन्य महान राजाओं ने

• कर्मणैव संसिद्धिमास्थिता — केवल कर्म के माध्यम से मोक्ष या सिद्धि प्राप्त की।

👉 राजा जनक जैसे महापुरुष, जो ज्ञानी होते हुए भी गृहस्थ जीवन में रहते थे, उन्होंने कर्म का त्याग नहीं किया, बल्कि उसे योग का माध्यम बनाया।

श्रीकृष्ण आगे कहते हैं:

• "लोकसंग्रहमेवापि" — केवल अपने मोक्ष के लिए नहीं, बल्कि लोक कल्याण की भावना से भी

• "कर्तुमर्हसि" — तुम्हें कर्म करना चाहिए।

अर्थात्, कर्म का उद्देश्य केवल आत्मसिद्धि नहीं, बल्कि दूसरों के लिए आदर्श स्थापित करना भी है।

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📖 Detailed Explanation in English

Krishna reminds Arjuna that even kings like Janaka, who were spiritually enlightened, did not renounce their duties. Instead:

• They attained perfection through action, not by abandoning it.

• They lived in the world, governed kingdoms, and still achieved liberation.

Why?

Because action, when done without attachment, is a path to self-realization. Moreover:

• “Loka-saṅgraham eva api…” – Even if you're spiritually advanced, you should continue to act for the welfare of society.

• The world looks to its leaders. If they abandon action, society loses its structure and guidance.

This is a call for responsible leadership, where personal enlightenment is balanced with social responsibility.

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💡 Life Lessons / Practical Takeaways

• 👑 Even wise and enlightened souls act. Renunciation is not always outer withdrawal.

• 🫂 Your actions influence others. Be an example of selfless work.

• 🌍 Serve society through your duties. Personal growth and social good go together.

• 🔁 Perfection through action is possible. You don’t have to escape the world to grow spiritually.

• 🙌 Never underestimate the power of righteous work. It uplifts both self and society.

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🔚 Conclusion

This verse breaks the myth that spiritual liberation comes only through renunciation of worldly life. Krishna shows that action, done rightly, leads to both personal liberation and societal upliftment.

Be like Janaka—not running from the world, but transforming it through your dharma.

Next, Krishna will further emphasize the importance of setting the right example, especially for those in leadership roles.