Bhagavad Gita 18.41
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 41 of 78
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परंतप । कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर् गुणैः ॥
brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca paraṃtapa | karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ ||
The duties of Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras are distributed by the guṇas born of their own nature.
Word by word (3)
- brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca paraṃtapa
- — of Brāhmaṇas (brāhmaṇa), Kṣatriyas (kṣatriya), Vaiśyas (viśāṃ = of the viś/vaiśyas), and also (ca) of Śūdras (śūdrāṇāṃ), O scorcher-of-foes (paraṃtapa = foe-scorcher, Arjuna) — the four varṇas (social/vocational categories) all addressed together
- karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ
- — the duties/actions (karmāṇi) are distributed/divided (pravibhaktāni = fully-divided, from pra + vi + bhaj = to divide, distribute) by the guṇas (guṇaiḥ) born of/arisen from (prabhavaiḥ = arising-from) svabhāva (one's own nature/natural constitution) — the guṇa-analysis now applied to social duty: each varṇa's karma arises from svabhāva-born guṇas
- svabhāva-prabhavaiḥ guṇaiḥ
- — guṇas arisen from/born of svabhāva (one's own nature); svabhāva = the natural constitutional disposition that a person is born with; this disposition expresses through guṇas; the Gita's social theory is guṇa-based (natural aptitude) not merely birth-based — the person whose svabhāva has sāttvic dominance naturally gravitates toward brāhmaṇa dharma; one whose svabhāva has rājasic dominance toward kṣatriya dharma; etc.
The duties of Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras, O scorcher-of-foes, are distributed according to the guṇas born of their own nature.
A modern analogy
This verse applies the completed guṇa-analysis to social organization. Just as a hospital has surgeons, nurses, administrators, and support staff — each with distinct duties arising from their training and natural aptitude — the Gita's four varṇas have distinct karmāṇi arising from their svabhāva-born guṇas. The system is meant to be natural-aptitude-based, not caste-by-birth.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Of Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, as also of Sudras, O Parantapa, the duties are divided according to the qualities born of nature. [1]
Of Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, as also of Shudras, O scorcher of foes, the duties are distributed according to the Gunas born of their own nature. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Tranquility, self-restraint, ascetic austerities, purity, forgiveness, rectitude, knowledge, experience, and belief (in an existence hereafter), these are the duties of Brahmanas, born of their proper nature. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
One with no ego-doer-sense, whose buddhi is untainted — even while killing all these beings, kills not, is not bound.
Sāttvic tyāga: niyata karma done ONLY because 'this must be done,' having abandoned attachment and fruit.
By bhakti one truly knows what and who I am; then knowing Me truly, one enters into Me immediately.
This knowledge, more secret than all secrets, has been declared to you — reflect on it fully and act as you wish.
Abandon all dharmas, take refuge in Me alone — I will liberate you from all sins; do not grieve.
Where yogeśvara Kṛṣṇa is, where archer Pārtha stands — there abide fortune, victory, flourishing, and steadfast dharma.
Verse 41 of 78 · back to Chapter 18