In Bhagavad Gita 18.46, Krishna says a person attains perfection by worshipping, through his own work, the one from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां
येन सर्वमिदं ततम्
स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य
सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः ॥ १८-४६ ॥
yataḥ pravṛttirbhūtānāṃ
yena sarvamidaṃ tatam
svakarmaṇā tamabhyarcya
siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ
English transliteration yatah pravrittirbhootaanaam
yena sarvamidam tatam
svakarmanaa tamabhyarchya
siddhim vindati maanavah ॥ 18.46 ॥
Translation / Meaning
By worshipping, through one’s own work, Him from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person attains perfection.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यतः yataḥ | from whom |
| प्रवृत्तिः pravṛttiḥ | arising |
| भूतानाम् bhūtānām | of beings |
| येन yena | by whom |
| सर्वम् sarvam | all |
| इदम् idam | this |
| ततम् tatam | pervaded |
| स्वकर्मणा svakarmaṇā | through one’s own work sva (own) + karmaṇā (work) |
| तम् tam | Him |
| अभ्यर्च्य abhyarcya | worshipping |
| सिद्धिम् siddhim | perfection |
| विन्दति vindati | attains |
| मानवः mānavaḥ | a person |
Word-wise Chanting
- ya–taḥ pra–vṛt–tir–bhū–tā–nāṃ 8 syllables ya-tah pra-vrit-tir-bhoo-taa-naam
- ye–na sar–va–mi–daṃ ta–tam | 8 syllables ye-na sar-va-mi-dam ta-tam
- sva–kar–ma–ṇā ta–mabh–yar–cya 8 syllables sva-kar-ma-naa ta-mabh-yar-chya
- sid–dhiṃ vin–da–ti mā–na–vaḥ || 18-46 8 syllables sid-dhim vin-da-ti maa-na-vah
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 46
Context
Krishna explains how one’s own work leads to perfection (18.45–18.48).
Meaning
Work itself becomes worship. By offering one’s sva-karma, one’s own work, as abhyarcana, worship, to the Divine from whom all beings come and who pervades everything, one attains siddhi, perfection.
This is one of the Gita’s most practical teachings: the office, field, kitchen or classroom can be a temple.
In Practice
Begin your work today with a silent offering: “May this work be my worship.”
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.