Chapter 18, Verse 44 (Bhagavad Gita 18.44)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम्।परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम्
Transliteration
kṛiṣhi-gau-rakṣhya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśhya-karma svabhāva-jam paricharyātmakaṁ karma śhūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam
Word Meanings
kṛiṣhi—agriculture; gau-rakṣhya—dairy farming; vāṇijyam—commerce; vaiśhya—of the mercantile and farming class; karma—work; svabhāva-jam—born of one’s intrinsic qualities; paricharyā—serving through work; ātmakam—natural; karma—duty; śhūdrasya—of the worker class; api—and; svabhāva-jam—born of one’s intrinsic qualities
Translation
Agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade are the natural duties of the Vaisya; and service is the natural duty of the Sudra, born of their own inherent qualities.
Meaning & Commentary
In this sacred instruction, Bhagwan Shri Krishna explains that social order is a divine orchestration based on the inherent Gunas or modes of nature. By performing these prescribed duties, a seeker aligns their external actions with their internal soul-constitution, which is a vital step toward inner purification. Shri Krishna teaches that when one works according to their nature, they cease to be bound by the ego-driven desires of the material world. Thus, through dedicated performance of one’s duty as an offering to the Supreme Lord, the seeker transcends mundane limitations. This path, when walked with devotion, transforms professional labor into an act of worship, leading the soul toward ultimate liberation in Krishna.