Chapter 12, Verse 10 (Bhagavad Gita 12.10)
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yog – The Yoga of Devotion
Sanskrit Shloka
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव।मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन् सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि
Transliteration
abhyāse ’py asamartho ’si mat-karma-paramo bhava mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi
Word Meanings
abhyāse—in practice; api—if; asamarthaḥ—unable; asi—you; mat-karma paramaḥ—devotedly work for me; bhava—be; mat-artham—for my sake; api—also; karmāṇi—work; kurvan—performing; siddhim—perfection; avāpsyasi—you shall achieve
Translation
If you are unable even to practice Abhyasa Yoga, then be intent on performing all your actions for My sake; for even by working for My sake, you shall attain the ultimate perfection.
Meaning & Commentary
In this profound verse, Bhagwan Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, offers a compassionate path of grace to every seeker. Recognizing that steady, disciplined meditation may be difficult for the conditioned soul, Lord Krishna invites us to transform our daily worldly activities into offerings of pure devotion. When one performs every duty as an act of service to the Divine, the work itself becomes a form of worship that purifies the heart and ego. By shifting the intention of our labor from selfish gain to the pleasure of Shri Krishna, we gradually detach from the material world and ascend toward eternal liberation. This path of Karma Yoga serves as a bridge, ensuring that every dedicated soul ultimately attains the perfection of union with the Supreme.