Karmanaiva Hi Samsiddhim

Krishna offers a living example: King Janaka. Here was a man who ruled a kingdom, managed affairs of state, raised a daughter (Sita), and yet attained the highest spiritual realization. He did not need to renounce the world. He found perfection through action itself. This is proof that the householder's life is not a barrier to moksha.

Then comes the concept of lokasangraha — holding the world together, acting for the common good. Krishna tells Arjuna: even if you have no personal stake in the outcome, you should act because the world needs your action. A leader who withdraws from duty leaves the people without direction.

Janaka's story is well known in the Upanishadic tradition. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad records his philosophical dialogues with the sage Yajnavalkya. He remains the model of a karma yogi king.

The idea of lokasangraha will be expanded in 3.21, where Krishna explains that whatever a great person does, ordinary people follow.