Bhagavad Gītā · Chapter 4, Verse 12
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः।
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा।।
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा।।
kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ
kṣipraṁ hi mānuṣe loke siddhir bhavati karmajā
also searched as "kankshantah karmanam siddhim yajanta iha devatah"
Translation
Those who desire the fruits of their ritualistic acts, sacrifice to the gods here; for, success quickly accrues in the world of men.
Vāṇi's rendering
Those who want quick results worship the gods — and in this human world, results come quickly.
Word by word
| Sanskrit & transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|
| काङ्क्षन्तःkāṅkṣantaḥ | longing for, hungry for |
| कर्मणाम्karmaṇāṁ | of actions, of works done |
| सिद्धिम्siddhiṁ | success, the result that lands |
| यजन्तेyajanta | they worship, they offer sacrifice (yajante, shortened before iha) |
| इहiha | here, in this place |
| देवताःdevatāḥ | the gods, the shining powers |
| क्षिप्रम्kṣipraṁ | quickly, without delay |
| हिhi | indeed, for |
| मानुषेmānuṣe | human |
| लोकेloke | in the world |
| सिद्धिःsiddhir | success (siddhiḥ, joined to bhavati) |
| भवतिbhavati | comes to be, arrives |
| कर्मजाkarmajā | born of action |
Frequently asked
What does Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 12 mean?
It means that people who want results worship the powers that give results, and those results do come. Krishna states this plainly. The human world is arranged so that action bears fruit fast. He is not condemning the exchange — he is showing you its speed, and quietly asking what else you might have wanted.
What does kankshantah karmanam siddhim yajanta iha devatah teach?
It teaches the honesty of transaction. Offer to the devatās with a wish in hand and the wish is often met — here, in this world, soon. Krishna names this without mockery. The line only turns sharp when you notice that karmajā, born of action, means the fruit lives exactly as long as its cause.
Is it wrong to pray for worldly things?
Krishna says no such thing. He says such prayer works, and works quickly. What he adds is a measure: whatever action produces, action can also take away. Pray for the house, the healing, the outcome. Just know which of your wants can be delivered by results, and which cannot.
Why does Krishna mention the gods here instead of himself?
Because he is describing where most seeking actually goes. The gods answer specific requests with specific gifts, and that traffic is real. Krishna places it in the open rather than hiding it. He will spend the rest of the chapter on what is offered when nothing is being asked for.
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Commentary
Krishna does not call this wrong. He calls it fast. Sacrifice to the gods for a result, and the result arrives — that is simply how the human world is built, and the verse says so without a trace of scorn. The catch is hidden in one word: kṣipram, quickly. What action makes, action can unmake; a fruit born in time keeps time's terms. Arjuna is being shown the whole menu before he chooses. So are you. Ask what you are worshipping for, and be honest about the answer — then ask whether you want it to last.