Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 46

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ।
स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः ॥

Transliteration

yataḥ pravṛttirbhūtānāṃ yena sarvamidaṃ tatam .
svakarmaṇā tamabhyarcya siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ ॥

Meaning

By worshipping through his own work Him from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a human being attains perfection.

Word meanings

यतः – from whom
प्रवृत्तिः – origin, the impulse to activity
भूतानाम् – of all beings
येन – by whom
सर्वम् – all
इदम् – this (universe)
ततम् – is pervaded
स्वकर्मणा – by one's own work
तम् – Him
अभ्यर्च्य – having worshipped
सिद्धिम् – perfection
विन्दति – attains
मानवः – a human being

Anvaya (word order)

यतः भूतानां प्रवृत्तिः, येन इदं सर्वं ततम्, तं स्वकर्मणा अभ्यर्च्य मानवः सिद्धिं विन्दति ।

Explanation

This verse is a wonderful meeting of karma yoga and bhakti yoga, and one of the most beautiful in the Gita. The previous verse raised the question of how ordinary work can lead to perfection. The answer: svakarmana tam abhyarchya — by worshipping Him through one's own work. When work becomes worship, it ceases to bind and becomes a means of liberation.

First Krishna tells us who this 'Him' is. Yatah pravrittir bhutanam — from whom all beings arise and draw their activity; the source of all. Yena sarvam idam tatam — by whom this entire universe is pervaded; present in every particle. To worship one who is both the source of all and present in all, no special place or materials are needed. Every action and every place can become a means of worship.

Worship is usually understood as offering flowers, incense and lamps in a temple. Here Krishna teaches that the greatest worship is offering one's duty to God. A teacher's honest teaching, a farmer's diligent cultivation, a doctor's compassionate care, a soldier's faithful protection, a mother's loving nurture — all are svakarmana archana, worship through one's own work. The work is the flower, sincerity the lamp, and surrender the offering.

From this standpoint no work is high or low. The study of the brahmana and the service of the shudra, if both are offered to the Lord, are equal worship. The worth of worship lies not in its materials but in its spirit. This verse rises above all distinctions of varna and makes every form of work equally sacred.

For Shankara, worshipping the Lord through one's own duty grants the perfection of fitness for the discipline of knowledge. Ramanuja says the Supreme alone is the object of worship in all actions, and through his grace that worship brings the highest state. Madhva stresses that Lord Vishnu is the impeller and pervader of all, so every act should be done for his pleasure.

Living this verse is simple in practice: before beginning any task, bring the thought, 'I offer this work to the Lord,' and when it is complete, hand over its result to Him as well. Then the whole day becomes one continuous act of worship.

Context

The previous verse said that one devoted to his own duty attains perfection, and invited Arjuna to hear how. This verse answers: by worshipping the all-pervading Supreme through one's work. In the next verse (18.47) Krishna explains the superiority of one's own dharma.

Life lesson

Make every task an act of worship — let the work be your flower, sincerity your lamp and surrender your offering. You need not go anywhere to worship; wherever you do your duty is your temple. Before every task, bring the feeling of offering it to God.

Key terms

Svakarmana abhyarchana: Worship of the Lord through one's own work
Pravritti: The source of origin and activity
Tatam: Pervaded
Work as worship: Offering one's duty to God
Siddhi: The supreme attainment of life