Word meanings
- abhyāse
- in practice
- api
- if
- asamarthaḥ
- unable
- asi
- you
- mat-karma paramaḥ
- devotedly work for me
- bhava
- be
- mat-artham
- for my sake
- api
- also
- karmāṇi
- work
- kurvan
- performing
- siddhim
- perfection
- avāpsyasi
- you shall achieve
Translations
If you are unable to practice even this Abhyasa Yoga, be intent on doing actions for My sake; even by doing actions for My sake, you will attain perfection.
And if you are not strong enough to practice concentration, then devote yourself to My service, do all your acts for My sake, and you will still attain the goal.
If you are unable even to practice, be intent on works for Me. By undertaking works for Me as well, you will attain perfection. [Identify with Brahman.]
अगर तू अभ्यास-(योग-) में भी असमर्थ है, तो मेरे लिये कर्म करनेके परायण हो जा। मेरे लिये कर्मोंको करता हुआ भी तू सिद्धिको प्राप्त हो जायगा।Commentary
Even if thou doest mee actions for My sake without practising Yoga thou shalt attain perfection. Thou shalt first attain purity of mind, then Yoga (concentration and meditation), then knowledge and then ultimately perfection (Moksha or liberation). Serving humanity with Narayana Bhava (feeling that one is serving the Lord in all) is also doing actions for the sake of the Lord. such service should go hand in hand with worship of God and meditation. If you are not able to practise the Yoga of meditation mentioned in verse 8 or the Yoga of constant practice mentioned in verse 9, hear the glorious stories connected with the Lord by attending religious discourses, conducted by the devotees of the Lord, sing Kirtan and the praises of the Lord.
Practise the nine kinds of Bhagavata Dharma (the nine modes of devotion). viz., (1) hearing the Lilas (glorious and divine sports) of the Lord (Sravana), (2) singing His Names (Kirtana), (3) constant remembrance of the Lord and constant repetition of His Names or Mantras (Smarana), (4) service of His feet (Padasevana), (5) offering flowers in worship (Archana), (6) doing prostrations to the Lord (Vandana), (7) becoming His servant (Dasya), (8) friendship with Him (Sakhya), and (9) doing total selfsurrender to the Lord (Atmanivedana).
(Cf.III.19XI.55)