In plain words
Among thousands of human beings, scarcely one strives for perfection; even among those who strive, perfected in that very striving, scarcely one knows Me in truth.
Word for word
Among thousands of human beings, one strives for perfection; even of the striving siddhas, one knows Me in truth.
मनुष्याणां सहस्रेषु कश्चिद् यतति सिद्धयेयततामपि सिद्धानां कश्चिन्मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः
Other commentaries
The commentators
▸Bhagavadgītābhāṣyam
कथमित्युच्यते —
मनुष्याणां मध्ये सहस्रेषु अनेकेषु कश्चित् यतति प्रयत्नं करोति सिद्धये सिद्ध्यर्थम् । तेषां यततामपि सिद्धानाम् , सिद्धा एव हि ते ये मोक्षाय यतन्ते, तेषां कश्चित् एव हि मां वेत्ति तत्त्वतः यथावत् ॥ ३ ॥
In plain words
How is that so? Here is the answer —
Among human beings — out of thousands, out of many thousands — one person here and there strives, that is, actually puts in the effort, for the sake of attainment. And of those who strive and are already accomplished — they truly are accomplished, these people who strive for liberation — of them, only one knows me in truth, exactly as I am.
Close to the Sanskrit
How? — it is said in answer —
Among human beings, in thousands, in many, someone strives — makes effort — for attainment, for the sake of attainment. Of those striving ones who are also accomplished — for they are indeed accomplished, those who strive for liberation — of them only someone indeed knows Me in truth, just as I am.