3.19.5 karmaNaiva hi samsidhdhim

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Chapter 3

<< Chapter 3 verse 19

SlOkam – Original

karmaNaiva hi samsidhdhim AsthithA janakAdhaya:

word-by-word meaning

janakAdhaya: – janaka et al
karmaNA Eva – only through karma yOga (and not gyAna yOga)
samsidhdhim – the result of self-realisation
AsthithA: hi – have they not attained?

Simple Translation

Have janaka et al not attained the result of self-realisation through karma yOga (and not gyAna yOga) only?

Rendering based on ALkoNdavilli gOvindhAchArya swAmy’s English translation of gIthA bhAshyam

‘By action alone, did Janaka[1. See Chh: Up: for Janaka’s account. Also Brih: Up:] and others reach the supreme perfection.’

As because Karma-Yoga is commended even to those who are qualified for Jñāna-Yoga, the Maharshis or Royal Sages like Janaka and others, —who were leaders of Jñānis[2. Janaka instructed even Śuka, the great Jñānī, the son of Veda-vyāsa. (Vide: Mahopanishat, 2nd Adhyāya).], reached supreme perfection —viz: realization of ātmā— by way of Works alone.

Thus it has been shown that for the moksha-aspirant, who is unfit to tread the Path of Knowledge (jñāna-yoga), who is therefore fit to walk the Path of Works (karma-yoga), the latter is the necessary course for him to adopt. It has also been shown, with reasons, that even for the man who is qualified to pursue the jñāna-yoga course, karma-yoga (work) has superior advantages over jñāna-yoga. (Knowledge).

It will now be shown that karma-yoga has another aspect: that of becoming an inevitable duty to a certain class of persons who are specially distinguished and qualified to practise, (and show) it (to others) :—

>> Chapter 3 verse 20

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