Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 41

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप ।
कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca parantapa .
karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāvaprabhavairguṇaiḥ ॥

Meaning

The duties of brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas, as also of shudras, O scorcher of foes, are distinguished according to the gunas born of their own nature.

Word meanings

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशाम् – of brahmanas, kshatriyas and vaishyas
शूद्राणाम् – of shudras
च – and
परन्तप – O scorcher of foes
कर्माणि – duties, actions
प्रविभक्तानि – are distinguished, divided
स्वभावप्रभवैः – born of their own nature
गुणैः – by the gunas

Anvaya (word order)

परन्तप, ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च कर्माणि स्वभावप्रभवैः गुणैः प्रविभक्तानि ।

Explanation

Here begins one of the most important passages of the Gita — the teaching on svadharma (18.41–48). In the previous verse Krishna said that no being is free from the three gunas. Now he explains that the natural duties of human beings are divided on the basis of these very gunas. The duties of the four varnas — brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra — are determined svabhava-prabhavair gunaih, by the gunas that arise from their own nature.

The key word is svabhava, one's own nature. In Chapter 4 (4.13) Krishna had said, chaturvarnyam maya srishtam guna-karma-vibhagashah — 'the fourfold order was created by me according to the division of qualities and actions.' The basis of this order is thus a person's qualities and natural activities. One in whose nature knowledge and serenity predominate is naturally suited to reflection and teaching; one in whom courage and leadership predominate is suited to protection and governance; and so on.

In the traditional explanations, sattva predominates in the brahmana; rajas with secondary sattva in the kshatriya; rajas with secondary tamas in the vaishya; and tamas with secondary rajas in the shudra. Shankara understands svabhava as the disposition formed by impressions from past lives, now manifest to bear fruit in this one. Ramanuja likewise sees it as the tendency produced by past karma. In the classical tradition this nature was also linked with birth.

In today's context the universal message of the verse is that every person has a unique nature: some are made for knowledge and teaching, some for leadership and protection, some for enterprise and commerce, some for service and support. Society stays healthy when each person works in harmony with his or her nature and when every kind of work receives equal respect. The Gita's emphasis is not on high and low but on the truth that every natural duty can become worship of the Lord (18.46).

It should also be noted that Krishna gives this analysis to remind Arjuna of his own svadharma. Arjuna is a kshatriya, and his natural duty is to fight for the protection of dharma — the whole passage moves towards this conclusion.

Context

The previous verse said that no being is free from the three gunas. This verse explains that the duties of the four varnas are divided according to those gunas. The next three verses (18.42–44) describe the natural duties of each varna.

Life lesson

Recognise your natural temperament and talents — they are the best indication of your field of work. Every kind of work is necessary and worthy of respect in society; never look down on any task. Working in harmony with your nature brings both skill and contentment.

Key terms

Svabhava: One's innate nature and disposition
Varna: A division of society based on quality and function
Guna-karma-vibhaga: Division according to qualities and actions
Svadharma: Duty arising from one's own nature
Parantapa: Scorcher of foes — Arjuna