In Bhagavad Gita 18.45, Krishna says each person attains perfection by devotion to their own duty; he asks Arjuna to hear how one devoted to one’s own work attains perfection.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः
संसिद्धिं लभते नरः
स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं
यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु ॥ १८-४५ ॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ
saṃsiddhiṃ labhate naraḥ
svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṃ
yathā vindati tacchṛṇu
English transliteration sve sve karmanyabhiratah
samsiddhim labhate narah
svakarmaniratah siddhim
yathaa vindati tachchhrinu ॥ 18.45 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Devoted to their own duty, each person attains perfection. Hear how one who is devoted to their own work attains perfection.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| स्वे स्वे sve sve | each to their own |
| कर्मणि karmaṇi | duty |
| अभिरतः abhirataḥ | devoted |
| संसिद्धिम् saṃsiddhim | perfection |
| लभते labhate | attains |
| नरः naraḥ | person |
| स्वकर्मनिरतः svakarmanirataḥ | devoted to their own work sva (own) + karma (work) + nirataḥ (devoted) |
| सिद्धिम् siddhim | perfection |
| यथा yathā | how |
| विन्दति vindati | attains |
| तत् tat | that |
| शृणु śṛṇu | hear |
Word-wise Chanting
- sve sve kar–maṇ–ya–bhi–ra–taḥ 8 syllables sve sve kar-man-ya-bhi-ra-tah
- saṃ–sid–dhiṃ la–bha–te na–raḥ | 8 syllables sam-sid-dhim la-bha-te na-rah
- sva–kar–ma–ni–ra–taḥ sid–dhiṃ 8 syllables sva-kar-ma-ni-ra-tah sid-dhim
- ya–thā vin–da–ti tac–chṛ–ṇu || 18-45 8 syllables ya-thaa vin-da-ti tach-chhri-nu
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 45
Context
Krishna explains how one’s own work leads to perfection (18.45–18.48).
Meaning
Each person reaches saṃsiddhi, perfection, by being abhirata, wholeheartedly devoted, to their own work. Spiritual fulfilment does not require changing one’s role but transforming how one performs it.
This is liberating: we do not need special circumstances to grow spiritually. Our present work is our path.
In Practice
Bring full devotion and care to your ordinary work today.
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.