Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 12

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः । क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा

kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃ yajanta iha devatāḥ | kṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe loke siddhirbhavati karmajā

Translation

They who long after success in actions sacrifice here to the Gods; for, soon in this world of man accrues success from action.

— Alladi Mahadeva Sastri

Word meanings

kāṅkṣantaḥ

desiring

karmaṇām

of actions

siddhim

success

yajante

(they) sacrifice to

iha

here

devatāḥ

the Shining Ones

kṣipram

quickly

hi

indeed

mānuṣe

in the human

loke

(in the) world

siddhiḥ

success

bhavati

is

karmajā

karma-born

Śaṅkarācārya's commentary

They who long after success in action sacrifice to the Gods, such as Indra and Agni. The Śruti says: "He who, on the other hand, worships a separate God, thinking, 'He is separate from me and I am separate from Him' — he knows not. He is to the Devas as cattle (to men)" (Bṛ. Up. 1.4.10). For quickly is the fruit of action reaped in this world of men by those who, with selfish ends in view, sacrifice to external Gods. It is for this world of men that Vedic injunctions are meant.