Bhagavad Gita 18.44
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 44 of 78
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् । परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥
kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṃ vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam | paricaryātmakaṃ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam ||
Vaiśya dharma: agriculture, cattle-care, trade — born of svabhāva. Śūdra dharma: service — born of svabhāva.
Word by word (3)
- kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṃ vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam
- — agriculture/cultivation (kṛṣi), cattle-protection/tending (go-rakṣya = cow-protection, cattle-care), and trade/commerce (vāṇijya = from vaṇij = merchant), these are the Vaiśya-duty (vaiśya-karma) born of svabhāva (one's own nature) — the Vaiśya's dharma covers the productive economy: farming, animal husbandry, trade
- paricaryātmakaṃ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam
- — service-natured (paricaryātmakam = paricaryā + ātmaka = service-natured; from pari + car = to move around + serve) duty/action (karma), of the Śūdra (śūdrasyāpi = also/even of the Śūdra), born of svabhāva (svabhāva-jam) — Śūdra dharma: service as the primary contribution; api (also/even) indicates the Gita's inclusive tone: even/also Śūdra dharma is svabhāva-born
- paricaryātmaka
- — service-natured; pari + caryā = attending around/serving comprehensively; the Śūdra's dharma is service — supporting the functioning of all other dharmas; this is not degraded in the Gita's framework: each dharma is equally necessary and equally capable of leading to perfection (V45: svakarmaṇā tam abhyarcya — worshiping through one's own karma leads to siddhi for ALL four)
Agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade are the duties of Vaiśyas, born of their own nature. Action consisting of service is the duty of Śūdras, born of their own nature.
A modern analogy
This verse covers the two remaining varṇas in one verse. Vaiśya dharma is the dharma of producers/traders — those whose svabhāva naturally tends toward building, nurturing (animals, crops), and exchange. Śūdra dharma is the dharma of those whose svabhāva tends toward skilled service and support. Both are svabhāva-born — neither inferior nor superior in the Gita's framework; each necessary, each capable of leading to perfection.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Ploughing, cattle-rearing, and trade, are the duties of the Vaisyas, born of nature. And of the nature of service is the duty of the Sudra, born of nature. [1]
Agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade are the duties of the Vaishyas, born of their own nature; and action consisting of service is the duty of the Shudras, born of their own nature. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Agriculture, tending of cattle, and trade, are the natural duties of Vaisyas. Of Sudras also, the natural duty consists in servitude. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Whoever does not turn the cosmic wheel of giving — living only for sense-pleasure — lives in vain.
For the protection of the good, destruction of wickedness, establishment of dharma — I come, age after age.
Approach the teacher with prostration, inquiry, and service. The knowers of truth will instruct you in jñāna.
Men are ready to die 'for my sake' — and Duryodhana names this fact without apparent weight.
The sound of righteous forces pierces the hearts of those who know they are on the wrong side.
Arjuna calls Duryodhana evil-minded — the last moment of moral clarity before grief clouds everything.
Verse 44 of 78 · back to Chapter 18