लोकसंग्रह

Lokasaṅgraha (लोकसंग्रह) is a word from the third chapter of the Gita. Loka means the world or the people in it, and saṅgraha carries the sense of holding together, keeping steady. So lokasaṅgraha means keeping in view the welfare of the world and its smooth running.

The Gita uses it twice. In 3.20, pointing to wise kings such as Janaka, it says that keeping lokasaṅgraha in view you ought to act. In 3.25 it says that as the unwise act attached to their work, so the wise should act free of attachment, wishing lokasaṅgraha.

The word carries the spirit of yajña further. In yajña action becomes an offering for a good beyond one's own circle; in lokasaṅgraha that larger good is plainly the welfare of all. In both, freedom from attachment is the condition.

Common misreading: taking lokasaṅgraha to be showy social service or preaching to others.

Better sense: joining one's own work to the good of all, and doing it free of attachment.

This outlook on turning action into an offering can be read in the topic Work as Sacrifice.