Bhagavad Gita BG 12.10
Chapter 12, Verse 10 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव । मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥
abhyase 'py asamartho 'si mat-karma-paramo bhava mad-artham api karmani kurvan siddhim avapsyasi
Meaning
If you are also unable to practice (abhyasa), then be devoted to My work; performing actions for My sake, you shall attain perfection.
Understanding
Krishna's descending scale of accessibility continues. V8 said: fix the mind completely on Me. V9 said: if you cannot, practice (abhyasa — formal practice of directing the mind). V10 says: if you cannot even practice (abhyase 'py asamartho 'si — if you are unable even in practice), then: mat-karma-paramo bhava (be devoted to My work — mat: My, karma: work/action, para: supreme, devoted to). Mad-artham api karmani kurvan (performing actions even for My sake — mad-artham: for Me, for My purpose). Siddhim avapsyasi (you shall attain perfection/siddhi). The grace of this verse is its total accessibility: even if you cannot meditate, even if you cannot practice formally — simply do ordinary actions AS service to the Divine. The karma-yoga solution appears again, but now as the most accessible rung on the ladder.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| अभ्यासे | abhyase | in practice, in the discipline of repeated training |
| असमर्थः | asamarthah | unable, incapable, not competent |
| मत्कर्मपरमः | mat-karma-paramah | devoted to My work as supreme (mat = My, karma = work, para = supreme devotion) |
| मदर्थम् | mad-artham | for My sake, for My purpose |
| सिद्धिम् | siddhim | perfection, fulfillment, success (siddhi) |
| अवाप्स्यसि | avapsyasi | you shall attain, you shall reach |
| अभ्यासे | abhyāse | in practice |
| अपि | api | also |
| असमर्थः | asamarthaḥ | incapable |
| असि | asi | you are |
| मत्-कर्म-परमः | mat-karma-paramaḥ | devoted to My service |
| भव | bhava | be, become |
| मत्-अर्थम् | mat-artham | for My sake |
| अपि | api | also |
| कर्माणि | karmāṇi | actions |
| कुर्वन् | kurvan | performing |
| अवाप्स्यसि | avāpsyasi | you will attain |