Yathora

The Gita · Chapter 18

Bhagavad Gita 18.41

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परंतप।कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः॥

brāhmaṇa-kṣhatriya-viśhāṁ śhūdrāṇāṁ cha parantapa karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ

Translation

Of Brâhmanas, Kshattriyas, Vaishyas and Shûdras, O Parantapa, the duties have been distributed, according to the qualities born of their own natures.

What it means

Of priests, rulers, merchants and servants, the duties are apportioned according to the gunas born of their own nature. Work is assigned by inner constitution, not by accident of status. Function should follow temperament.

Try this today

Duties assigned by inner disposition, not by birth-certificate: the four orders as four temperaments.

Something to reflect on

Is my work assigned by my constitution or by an accident of status?

Read it in Yathora
← 18.4018.42 →

Translation by Annie Besant (1905, public domain). The meanings are original to Yathora, drawn from Shankara’s commentary.