कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः
लोकसङ्ग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ
lokasaṅgrahamevāpi saṃpaśyankartumarhasi
TRANSLATION
Indeed by Karma Yoga alone did Janaka and others reach perfection. Even recognising its necessity for the guidance of the world, you must perform action.
PURPORT
It is also declared that by Karma Yoga alone Janaka and others reached perfection. Because, Karma Yoga is the best means for securing the vision of the self even for a person who is qualified for Jñana Yoga, royal sages like Janaka and others, who are foremost among the Jñanins, preferred Karma Yoga as the means for attaining perfection. Thus, having first declared previously that Karma Yoga must be practised by an aspirant for release who is qualified for Karma Yoga alone, as he is unfit for Jñana Yoga, it was next stated with reasons that, even for one who is qualified for Jñana Yoga, Karma Yoga is better than Jñana Yoga. Now it is going to be declared (in verses 20-26) that Karma Yoga must be performed in every way by one who is virtuous. At least for the guidance of the world, you should do work even if there is no need of it for yourself.