Verse 12.10
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव | मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ||१०||
Transliteration (IAST)
abhyāse 'py asamartho 'si mat-karma-paramo bhava | mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi ||10||
Word-by-Word Meanings
abhyāse-in practice
asamarthaḥ-unable
mat-karma-paramaḥ-devoted to working for Me
bhava-become
mad-artham-for My sake
karmāṇi-actions
kurvan-performing
siddhim-perfection
Translation
If you are unable even to practice, then be intent on performing actions for My sake. Even by performing actions for My sake, you shall attain perfection.
Commentary
The third step down: karma dedicated to God. Shankaracharya explains 'mat-karma' as temple service, worship, and charitable acts performed as offerings. This verse validates the path of active service for those temperamentally unsuited to meditation, showing that devotion encompasses all modes of engagement.
Themes
bhaktikarmasurrender