Bhagavad Gita — Bhakti Yoga, Shloka 10
Bhakti Yoga
अभ्यासेऽप्यसमर्थोऽसि मत्कर्मपरमो भव । मदर्थमपि कर्माणि कुर्वन्सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ १२.१० ॥
abhyāse ’py asamartho ’si mat-karma-paramo bhava | mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi || 12.10 ||
अभ्यासही करण्यास तू असमर्थ असशील, तर माझ्या कर्मात परायण हो. माझ्यासाठी कर्मे करत राहिलास तरी तू सिद्धी प्राप्त करशील.
If you are unable even to practice, then be devoted to performing actions for My sake; even by doing works for Me you shall attain perfection.
If you are not capable even of practice, then become one for whom My work is foremost; performing actions even for My purpose, you will attain fulfillment (siddhi).
Traditional readings interpret ‘My work’ as service to God (worship, duty, service to devotees). Academic readings note a pragmatic ethical turn: when contemplation is hard, reorient ordinary action by intention and dedication.
FAQs
It uses behavioral entry points: changing intention and meaning of actions can reshape habits and identity even before deep meditative capacity develops.
Spiritual progress is not restricted to contemplatives; consecrated action can function as a vehicle toward liberation/fulfillment.
This is the next step in Krishna’s graded instruction: from meditation, to practice, to dedicated action.
Turn work into service by clarifying who benefits and why; align tasks with a higher value (care, truthfulness, responsibility) rather than self-promotion.