Your work as spiritual practice
Transform work from obligation to offering. Excel in your career while maintaining inner peace.
Tasmad asaktah satatam karyam karma samachara, asakto hy acharan karma param apnoti purushah
Therefore, without attachment, constantly perform action which is duty, for by performing action without attachment, one attains the Supreme.
sve sve karmany abhiratah samsiddhim labhate narah sva-karma-niratah siddhim yatha vindati tac chrinu
Each person attains perfection by being devoted to their own duty. Hear now how one who is intent on their own duty finds that perfection. Krishna affirms that fulfillment comes through wholehearted engagement with one's own dharmic work.
yatah pravrittir bhutanam yena sarvam idam tatam sva-karmana tam abhyarcya siddhim vindati manavah
By worshipping through one's own duty the One from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person finds perfection. Every form of work becomes worship when offered to the Supreme who pervades all existence.
Karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana, ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sango 'stv akarmani
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyayo hy akarmanah, sharira-yatrapi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmanah
You should thus perform your prescribed Vedic duties, since action is superior to inaction. By ceasing activity, even your bodily maintenance will not be possible.
Shreyan sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat sv-anushthitat, sva-dharme nidhanam shreyah para-dharmo bhayavahah
It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another's duties perfectly. Better to die performing one's own duty than adopt another's, for that is dangerous.
sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat sv-anusthitat sva-bhava-niyatam karma kurvan napnoti kilbisam
Better is one's own duty, though imperfectly performed, than the duty of another well performed. By performing duty ordained by one's own nature, one does not incur sin. This echoes the teaching of chapter three on the primacy of svadharma.
Karmany akarma yah pashyed akarmani ca karma yah, sa buddhiman manushyeshu sa yuktah krtsna-karma-krt
One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among people. They are in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.
Tyaktva karma-phalasangam nitya-tripto nirasrayah, karmany abhipravrittoapi naiva kimcit karoti sah
Having abandoned all attachment to the fruits of action, always content and without any dependence, such a person, even while engaged in action, does not do anything at all.
Brahmany adhaya karmani sangam tyaktva karoti yah, lipyate na sa papena padma-patram ivambhasa
One who performs their duty without attachment, surrendering the results to the Supreme, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.
Yoga-sthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya, siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva samatvam yoga ucyate
Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.
Yajna-arthat karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah, tad-artham karma kaunteya mukta-sangah samachara
Work must be done as a sacrifice to the Supreme; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your duties for His satisfaction, and you will be free from bondage.
Abhyāse 'py asamartho 'si mat-karma-paramo bhava, mad-artham api karmāṇi kurvan siddhim avāpsyasi
If you are unable even to practice, be devoted to performing actions for My sake. By doing actions for My sake, you will attain perfection.
Saha-jam karma kaunteya sa-dosham api na tyajet, sarvarambha hi dosena dhumenagnir ivavritah
One should not abandon one's natural work, even if it has some fault, O Arjuna. Indeed, all undertakings are enveloped by some fault, as fire is by smoke.
Karmanaiva hi samsiddhim asthita janakadayah, loka-sangraham evapi sampashyan kartum arhasi
Even kings like Janaka attained perfection through action alone. You should act, also considering the welfare of the world. Great leaders demonstrate that dedicated, selfless action leads to perfection.
Yad yad acarati shresthas tat tad evetaro janah, sa yat pramanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate
Whatever action a great person performs, common people follow. And whatever standards they set by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
Evam jnatva kritam karma purvair api mumukshubhih, kuru karmaiva tasmat tvam purvaih purvataram kritam
Knowing this, the ancient seekers of liberation also performed action. Therefore, perform your duty as the ancients did in earlier times.
brahmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāṁ śūdrāṇāṁ ca paraṁtapa karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ
The duties of brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras are distributed according to the qualities born from their own inner nature. The varna system as described here is grounded in svabhava — one's intrinsic temperament and qualities — rather than mere birth.
Shamo damas tapah shaucham kshantir arjavam eva cha, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam
Tranquility, self-control, austerity, purity, forgiveness, uprightness, knowledge, realization, and faith in God—these are the natural qualities of work for brahmins.
sauryam tejo dhritir daksyam yuddhe capy apalayanam danam isvara-bhavas ca ksatram karma svabhava-jam
Heroism, vigor, steadiness, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity, and lordly nature — these are the duties of the kshatriya born of their own nature. The warrior class is defined by courage, honor, and protective leadership.
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