Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 44

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् ।
परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣigaurakṣyavāṇijyaṃ vaiśyakarma svabhāvajam .
paricaryātmakaṃ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāvajam ॥

Meaning

Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the duties of the vaishya, born of his nature; and work consisting of service is the duty of the shudra, likewise born of his nature.

Word meanings

कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यम् – agriculture, cattle-protection and trade
वैश्यकर्म – the duty of the vaishya
स्वभावजम् – born of nature
परिचर्यात्मकम् – consisting of service
कर्म – work
शूद्रस्य – of the shudra
अपि – also
स्वभावजम् – born of nature

Anvaya (word order)

कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं स्वभावजं वैश्यकर्म; परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्य अपि स्वभावजम् ।

Explanation

Three natural duties of the vaishya are named — krishi, gaurakshya and vanijya. Krishi is agriculture, which produces food for the whole of society. Gaurakshya is the rearing and protection of cows and other livestock, the foundation of the economy of ancient India. Vanijya is trade, through which goods and services flow through society. Together they form society's economic backbone. The vaishya is society's nourisher — the creator and distributor of wealth and food.

The natural duty of the shudra is paricharyatmaka, work in the form of service. Service here means support and labour in the work of all the other groups. No society or institution can function without labour and service. As the feet bear the weight of the whole body, so service is the foundation on which society stands.

It is essential to understand that the Gita does not regard any work as inferior. In the very next verses (18.45–46) Krishna declares that every person attains the highest perfection by being devoted to his own natural work, and reaches perfection by worshipping the Lord through that work. The study of the brahmana and the service of the shudra are thus equally liberating when offered as worship. In Chapter 9 (9.32) Krishna had declared plainly that whoever takes refuge in him attains the supreme goal.

In history, birth-based hierarchy and discrimination also arose in the name of the varna order — contrary to the spirit of the Gita, which calls seeing one Self in all sattvic knowledge (18.20) and describes the wise as seeing all with equal vision (5.18). The timeless message of this verse is that agriculture, industry, commerce and service are as necessary and as sacred to society as knowledge and governance.

Context

The previous two verses described the duties of the brahmana and kshatriya. This verse describes those of the vaishya and shudra. In the next verse (18.45) Krishna declares that each person attains perfection by devotion to his own duty.

Life lesson

Farmers, traders, craftspeople and those who serve are the foundation of society; never look down on any labour. Every task done with honesty and dedication becomes worship. Hold respect and gratitude towards all.

Key terms

Krishi: Agriculture
Gaurakshya: Rearing and protection of cattle
Vanijya: Trade, commerce
Paricharya: Service, support and labour