Mūla — the verse
Gita Press numberingकाङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः।
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा
kāṅkṣhantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ
kṣhipraṁ hi mānuṣhe loke siddhir bhavati karmajā
Anuṣṭubh
Translation
Swami Gambhīrānanda · follows Śaṅkara-bhāṣyaLonging for the fruition of their actions (of their rites and duties), they worship the gods here. For, in the human world, success from action comes quickly.
हिन्दी अनुवाद — Swami Tejomayānanda
(सामान्य मनुष्य) यहाँ (इस लोक में) कर्मों के फल को चाहते हुये देवताओं को पूजते हैं; क्योंकि मनुष्य लोक में कर्मों के फल शीघ्र ही प्राप्त होते हैं।।
Pronunciation — Vaamshii
from Vaamshiiकाङ्क् षन्त% कर्मणां सिद्धिम्
यजन्त इह देवताः
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके
सिद् धिर् भवति कर्म जा
॥ १२ ॥
Read each split group as one breath-unit; hyphens join pādas kept whole for the meter or a compound word. Symbols: # upadhmānīya (visarga before p/ph), % jihvāmūlīya (visarga before k/kh), ऽ avagraha (an elided a). Full method →
Word by word
padārthakāṅkṣhantaḥdesiring
karmaṇāmmaterial activities
siddhimsuccess
yajanteworship
ihain this world
devatāḥthe celestial gods
kṣhipramquickly
hicertainly
mānuṣhein human society
lokewithin this world
siddhiḥrewarding
bhavatimanifest
karma-jāfrom material activities
Meaning — Questions & Solutions
from Q&A with KnA4.12Why do people worship the gods for quick results rather than seek the highest?
Longing for the fruition of their actions (of their rites and duties), they worship the gods here. For, in the human world, success from action comes quickly.
The verse itself, in Swami Gambhīrānanda's rendering, is the answer. For reasoned solutions to knotty verses, browse the Q&A index.