Shankaracharya's commentary, trans. Alladi Mahadeva Sastry (1897)
[1]Desiring the fruition of actions, they worship the gods here; for success, born of action, comes quickly to men in this world.
BG 4.12
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः । क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ॥
kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃ yajanta iha devatāḥ | kṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe loke siddhir bhavati karma-jā ||
"Those seeking results worship the gods who grant results. Quick success comes from action in the human world."
All public-domain translations
5 translations · all pre-1928 or released to public domain · sources
Swami Swarupananda, Srimad Bhagavad Gita (1909)
[4]Those who long for success in action in this world worship the gods; because success is quickly attained by men through action.
William Quan Judge, The Bhagavad Gita (1890)
[6]Those who desire the fruit of their actions in this world offer sacrifice to the gods; because success is quickly obtained by men through action.
Sir Edwin Arnold, The Song Celestial (1885)
[7]They whose desires lead them to seek some God For earthly needs, find quickly in that God The earthly need supplied.
K.T. Telang, Sacred Books of the East Vol. 8 (1882)
[9]Those who wish for success in action in this world worship the gods; for success from action is quickly obtained in this world of men.