Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Verse 12

Bhagavad Gita 4.12

Desire for quick success makes people chase fast-acting powers.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः ।
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
कर्मोंकी सिद्धि फल चाहनेवाले मनुष्य देवताओंकी उपासना किया करते हैं क्योंकि इस मनुष्यलोकमें कर्मोंसे उत्पन्न होनेवाली सिद्धि जल्दी मिल जाती है ॥
English
People who want quick success worship radiant beings, because results from action come quickly in the human world.

What this verse means

People who want immediate success often turn to lesser powers for help, because in the human world action can produce quick results.

Context & commentary

Krishna is explaining why people seek quick gains through ritual power rather than steady inner understanding. On the battlefield, Arjuna wants a way out of crisis now, and Krishna shows how the mind reaches for fast results.

Why this verse still matters

You refresh the app after sending the message, hoping for an instant reply. That hunger for speed can push you toward shortcuts, hacks, and quick fixes that never last.

The takeaway

The urge for speed can make you chase shortcuts instead of understanding what truly works.

Word-by-word translation

काङ्क्षन्तः (desiring) / कर्मणाम् (of actions) / सिद्धिम् (success, accomplishment) / यजन्ते (worship) / इह (here) / देवताः (radiant beings) / क्षिप्रम् (quickly) / हि (indeed) / मानुषे (in human) / लोके (world) / सिद्धिः (success, accomplishment) / भवति (becomes) / कर्मजा (born of action)

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