Gita 4.12
Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः | क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ||४.१२||
kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ | kṣipraṁ hi mānuṣe loke siddhir bhavati karmajā ||4.12||
In essence: Worldly success comes quickly to those who work for it—but Krishna subtly asks: is quick success the same as ultimate fulfillment?
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Krishna seems to be saying that worshipping gods for material success actually works. But isn't that spiritually inferior to seeking liberation?"
Guru: "Does Krishna say it's inferior, or does he simply describe it accurately?"
Sadhak: "He describes it. But by placing it after the verse about all paths leading to Him, isn't he suggesting it's a lower path?"
Guru: "Lower for what purpose? If your goal is material success, this is the direct path—and it works quickly. If your goal is liberation from the cycle of desire and achievement, this path keeps you cycling. The path is 'inferior' only relative to a goal it wasn't designed to achieve."
Sadhak: "But shouldn't we want liberation? Isn't desiring material success just ego?"
Guru: "Should we want liberation before we want it? Many seekers spend years pretending to want liberation while actually wanting security, recognition, or spiritual achievement. At least those worshipping for material success are honest about what they want. Honesty is the first step."
Sadhak: "So it's okay to pursue material success through spiritual means?"
Guru: "It's human. And it's effective—Krishna confirms this. The question isn't whether it's 'okay' but whether it leads where you want to go. Success born of action requires ongoing action to maintain. The successful person doesn't rest; they work to protect and expand their success. Is this the life you want?"
Sadhak: "When you put it that way, it sounds exhausting. But isn't some material security necessary for spiritual practice?"
Guru: "Necessary? Perhaps some basic stability helps. But notice how the definition of 'necessary' keeps expanding. First you need food and shelter. Then financial security. Then status that protects your security. The goalpost moves. This is 'karma-jā siddhiḥ'—success that generates need for more success."
Sadhak: "How do I know whether my desires are legitimate needs or endless wanting?"
Guru: "Ask: if this desire is fulfilled, will I be satisfied? Or will new desires arise? If you're honest, you'll see the pattern. This verse describes the pattern: success in the human world comes quickly. But does satisfaction come? That's the question beneath the question."
Sadhak: "So the verse is warning us about the trap of quick success?"
Guru: "Not warning—illuminating. Some need to achieve success to see through it. Others can learn from observation. Krishna isn't saying don't pursue material success; he's saying understand what you're pursuing and what it can and cannot deliver. Then choose consciously rather than compulsively."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Examine your own desires honestly. What are you actually seeking today? Success in a project? Recognition from others? Financial security? Physical pleasure? Don't judge these desires—just see them clearly. Then ask: if I achieve what I'm seeking, will I be satisfied? Or will new desires arise? This isn't to paralyze action but to act with clear understanding. You might still pursue your goals, but without the magical thinking that achieving them will produce permanent satisfaction. This clarity itself is liberating—you can work without desperation because you're not betting your happiness on outcomes.
Observe the mechanism of 'quick success' in the human world. Notice how rapidly actions produce results—how your effort at work affects outcomes, how your words affect relationships, how your choices affect circumstances. This quick feedback is what makes human life precious and also what makes it exhausting. Notice too the other side: how quickly today's success becomes yesterday's news. The achievement you worked toward is soon taken for granted, and new achievements are needed. Watch this cycle in yourself and others without judgment. Understanding the cycle is the first step toward freedom from it.
Reflect on the successes and failures of the day. Did you achieve anything you wanted? How does that achievement feel now, hours later? Did you fail at anything? How does that failure feel? Notice how both success and failure are impermanent states that arise and pass. Neither defines you; both are episodes in the ongoing story of action and result. Consider: what would it be like to act fully without being defined by outcomes? What would it be like to work with skill and dedication while holding success and failure equally? This equanimity is what Krishna will teach in coming verses. For now, simply notice the instability of karma-jā siddhiḥ—success born of action—and let that noticing create space for something deeper.