Bhagavad Gita BG 18.44
Chapter 18, Verse 44 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् । परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥
krshi-gaurakshya-vanijyam vaishya-karma svabhava-jam paricaryatmakam karma shudras-yapi svabhava-jam
Meaning
Farming, cattle-tending, and trade are the Vaishya's duties born of nature; and service by its very nature is the Shudra's duty, born of their nature.
Understanding
Vaishya svadharma: krshi (agriculture, farming), gaurakshya (cow-protection, cattle-tending), vanijya (trade and commerce). The vaishya's function is the economic foundation of society — producing food, tending animals, and facilitating exchange. Shudra svadharma: paricaryatmakam karma (service-natured action — the function of supporting and serving the other three functions). Svabhava-jam in both cases — born of their own nature, the natural guna-orientation. The four functions together maintain the social organism: wisdom-transmission, protection, economic sustenance, and supportive service.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| कृषि | krshi | agriculture, farming |
| गौरक्ष्य | gaurakshya | protection of cows, cattle-tending |
| वाणिज्यम् | vanijyam | trade, commerce |
| परिचर्यात्मकम् | paricaryatmakam | service-natured, characterized by serving/attending |
| कृषि | kṛṣi | farming, agriculture |
| गो-रक्ष्य | go-rakṣya | cow protection |
| वाणिज्यम् | vāṇijyam | trade, commerce |
| वैश्य-कर्म | vaiśya-karma | the duty of a vaishya |
| स्वभाव-जम् | svabhāva-jam | born of one's nature |
| परिचर्या-आत्मकम् | paricaryā-ātmakam | consisting of service |
| कर्म | karma | duty |
| शूद्रस्य | śūdrasya api | also of a shudra |