Topic

Service

4 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on service. Explore teachings across 2 chapters.

All Verses

Chapter 4 • Verse 34 →The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation
Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya, upadekshyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darshinah

Understand this by approaching a teacher with humility, by sincere questioning, and by service. The wise who have directly seen the truth will impart that knowledge to you.

  • •True knowledge requires a living teacher and a humble student
  • •Prostration, inquiry, and service are the three qualifications
  • •Those who have directly experienced truth are qualified to transmit it
guruhumilityinquirytransmission
Chapter 18 • Verse 44 →The Yoga of Liberation and Renunciation
krsi-goraksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam paricaryatmakam karma sudrasyapi svabhava-jam

Agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade are the natural duties of the vaishya, and service is the natural duty of the shudra. Each class has a distinct and honorable field of contribution to the social whole.

  • •Vaishya dharma encompasses farming, animal husbandry, and commerce
  • •Shudra dharma is service — a role Krishna treats with respect and dignity
  • •Every varna's duty is 'svabhava-jam' — born from natural inner inclination
vaishyashudrasvadharmavarna