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Study a Verse
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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 18.44
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् ।
परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥ ४४ ॥
kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ
vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam
paricaryātmakaṁ karma
śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam
Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaiśyas, and for the śūdras there are labor and service to others.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Farming, cow protection, and business are natural work for vaiśyas; labor and service to others are work for śūdras.
Cow protection is included in the vaiśyas’ work, along with farming and business.
The śūdras’ work includes both labor and serving others.
These notes cover verses 18.41–44
Qualities of four varnas (Thus indicating to utilize your karmic propensities in the dutiful service of the Lord)
Brahmanas (18.42): Nine qualities – Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness
Ksatriyas (18.43): Seven qualities – Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership
Vaisyas (18.44): Three qualities – Farming, cow-protection and business
Sudras (18.44): One qualities – Labor and service to others
All work is controlled by the modes, yet one can become free from the reactions of work by acting as brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra in Niskama karma yoga while worshipping the Lord through that work
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 18.44 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?
Do one task today purely because it is right.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.