In Bhagavad Gita 18.44, Krishna says agriculture, cattle-tending and trade are the natural duties of the vaishya, and work of service is the natural duty of the shudra.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं
वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम्
परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म
शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥ १८-४४ ॥
kṛṣigaurakṣyavāṇijyaṃ
vaiśyakarma svabhāvajam
paricaryātmakaṃ karma
śūdrasyāpi svabhāvajam
English transliteration krishigaurakshyavaanijyam
vaishyakarma svabhaavajam
paricharyaatmakam karma
shoodrasyaapi svabhaavajam ॥ 18.44 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the duties of a vaishya, born of his nature; and work consisting of service is the duty of a shudra, born of his nature.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यम् kṛṣigaurakṣyavāṇijyam | agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade kṛṣi (agriculture) + gaurakṣya (cattle-rearing) + vāṇijyam (trade) |
| वैश्यकर्म vaiśyakarma | the duty of a vaiśya vaiśya (vaiśya) + karma (duty) |
| स्वभावजम् svabhāvajam | born of his nature |
| परिचर्यात्मकम् paricaryātmakam | consisting of service paricaryā (service) + ātmakam (consisting) |
| कर्म karma | work |
| शूद्रस्य śūdrasya | of a śūdra |
| अपि api | also |
| स्वभावजम् svabhāvajam | born of his nature |
Word-wise Chanting
- kṛ–ṣi–gau–rakṣ–ya–vā–ṇij–yaṃ 8 syllables kri-shi-gau-raksh-ya-vaa-nij-yam
- vaiś–ya–kar–ma sva–bhā–va–jam | 8 syllables vaish-ya-kar-ma sva-bhaa-va-jam
- pa–ri–car–yāt–ma–kaṃ kar–ma 8 syllables pa-ri-char-yaat-ma-kam kar-ma
- śūd–ras–yā–pi sva–bhā–va–jam || 18-44 8 syllables shood-ras-yaa-pi sva-bhaa-va-jam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 18 Verse 44
Context
Krishna describes the fourfold division of work according to nature (18.41–18.44).
Meaning
The vaiśya nature expresses itself in kṛṣi, farming; gaurakṣya, caring for cattle; and vāṇijya, commerce. The śūdra nature expresses itself in paricaryā, service and skilled labour.
The next verses insist that perfection is reached by doing one’s own work well, whatever it is. No work is spiritually inferior when done as worship.
In Practice
Do your own work today, whatever it is, as an offering to the Divine.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Liberation and Renunciation). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.