Chapter 18, Verse 45 (Bhagavad Gita 18.45)
Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyās Yog – Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Sanskrit Shloka
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः।स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु
Transliteration
sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ sansiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tach chhṛiṇu
Word Meanings
sve sve—respectively; karmaṇi—work; abhirataḥ—fulfilling; sansiddhim—perfection; labhate—achieve; naraḥ—a person; sva-karma—to one’s own prescribed duty; nirataḥ—engaged; siddhim—perfection; yathā—as; vindati—attains; tat—that; śhṛiṇu—hear
Translation
Devoted to one's own duty, man attains perfection. Now hear from Me how one engaged in his own duty attains such perfection, O Arjuna.
Meaning & Commentary
Bhagwan Shri Krishna reveals that the path to spiritual perfection is not found in imitation, but in the sincere performance of one's prescribed duties as an offering unto Him. When a seeker performs their ordained work with a dedicated heart, they effectively purify their consciousness and dissolve the ego. By aligning one’s actions with their innate nature under the guidance of Lord Krishna, every worldly task is transformed into a sacred act of worship. Ultimately, this devotion removes the obstacles of attachment, allowing the soul to realize its eternal connection with the Supreme Lord. Thus, through the furnace of duty, the seeker attains the supreme state of liberation and divine union.