Bhagavad Gita 18.45
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 45 of 78
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्य् अभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः । स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच् छृणु ॥
sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ saṃsiddhiṃ labhate naraḥ | sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiṃ yathā vindati tac chṛṇu ||
Devoted each to his own duty, a person attains complete perfection — hear how one so devoted finds siddhi.
Word by word (3)
- sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ saṃsiddhiṃ labhate naraḥ
- — delighting/devoted (abhirataḥ = from abhi + ram = thoroughly-delighting-in) in his own own (sve sve = emphatic reduplicated 'in one's very own') karma (duty/action), a person (naraḥ) attains (labhate) complete perfection (saṃsiddhi = full-siddhi, total-perfection) — the universal promise: ANY person devoted to their OWN dharma attains full siddhi
- sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiṃ yathā vindati tac chṛṇu
- — hear (śṛṇu) how (yathā = as/how) one devoted to (nirataḥ = engaged in, from ni + ram = deeply delighting) one's own karma (sva-karma) attains (vindati = finds/obtains) perfection (siddhim) — and that hear — V45 announces, V46 will explain the HOW
- sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ
- — delighting in one's very own duty; sve sve is emphatic reduplication — not merely doing one's own karma but being genuinely drawn to it (abhirata = delighting), finding authentic joy in it; this is the karmic resonance between svabhāva and svadharma — when these align, the work becomes a source of deep engagement rather than mere obligation; this is the sāttvic relationship between a person and their dharma
Devoted to his own duty, each person attains complete perfection. How one devoted to his own duty attains perfection — that hear.
A modern analogy
This verse is the universal promise and the setup for what follows. Having established the four svadharmas across the preceding verses on brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, and śūdra duty, Krishna announces: any person genuinely devoted (abhirata — not reluctantly complying but actually delighting) in their own dharma attains complete perfection. The 'how' follows next: by worshiping the source of all beings through one's own action.
Public-domain translations (4) compare all →
Devoted each to his own duty, man attains perfection; how one, devoted to one's own duty, attains success, that do thou hear. [1]
Devoted each to his own duty, man attains the highest perfection. How engaged in his own duty, he attains perfection, that hear. [4]
MISSING from index. [9]
Every man, engaged in his own duties, attains to perfection. Hear now how one obtains perfection by application to his duties. [13]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
By bhakti one truly knows what and who I am; then knowing Me truly, one enters into Me immediately.
The unattached-minded, self-conquered, desire-free one attains supreme naiskarmya-siddhi through sannyāsa.
Learn briefly from Me how one who has attained siddhi attains Brahman — the supreme culmination of knowledge.
Endued with pure buddhi, regulating self with dhṛti, renouncing sense-objects, setting aside rāga-dveṣa —
Even doing all actions always, with refuge in Me — by My grace one attains the eternal imperishable abode.
Whoever teaches this supreme secret among My devotees, with supreme bhakti — comes to Me without doubt.
Verse 45 of 78 · back to Chapter 18