Verse 18.45
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः | स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु ||४५||
Transliteration (IAST)
sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ | sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tac chṛṇu ||45||
Word-by-Word Meanings
sve sve-each in his own
karmaṇi-duty
abhirataḥ-engaged/devoted
saṁsiddhim-perfection
labhate-attains
naraḥ-a person
sva-karma-nirataḥ-devoted to one's own duty
vindati-finds
Translation
Each person, devoted to his own duty, attains perfection. Hear how one devoted to one's own duty finds perfection.
Commentary
Krishna introduces the principle that perfection is attainable through devoted performance of one's own natural duty. Shankaracharya explains that 'samsiddhi' here means the fitness for jnana (knowledge) that leads to liberation. Ramanuja interprets perfection as the grace of God attained through selfless performance of prescribed duties.
Themes
karmadharmadutymoksha