B.G 18.48
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्। सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ॥४८॥
sahajaṁ karma kaunteya sadoṣamapi na tyajet। sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa dhūmenāgnirivāvṛtāḥ ॥48॥
[सहजम् (sahajam) - natural; कर्म (karma) - action; कौन्तेय (kaunteya) - O son of Kunti; सदोषम् (sadoṣam) - with fault; अपि (api) - even; न (na) - not; त्यजेत् (tyajet) - should abandon; सर्वारम्भाः (sarvārambhāḥ) - all undertakings; हि (hi) - indeed; दोषेण (doṣeṇa) - with fault; धूमेन (dhūmena) - with smoke; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; इव (iva) - like; आवृताः (āvṛtāḥ) - are covered;]
(One should not abandon natural action, O son of Kunti, even if it is faulty. For all undertakings are covered with fault, just as fire is covered with smoke.)
O son of Kunti, do not abandon your natural duties, even if they have faults, because all actions are clouded by faults, just as fire is enveloped by smoke.
Gīta Tātparya 18.48
शमो दमः तपः शौचं क्षाञ्तिरार्जवमेव च। ज्नानं विज्नानमास्तिक्यं विप्रकर्म स्वभावजम्॥
śamo damaḥ tapaḥ śaucaṃ kṣāntirārjavameva ca। jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ viprakarma svabhāvajam॥
[शमः (śamaḥ) - calmness; दमः (damaḥ) - self-control; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; शौचं (śaucaṃ) - purity; क्षान्तिः (kṣāntiḥ) - forbearance; आर्जवम् (ārjavam) - uprightness; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; ज्ञानम् (jñānam) - knowledge; विज्ञानम् (vijñānam) - wisdom; आस्तिक्यम् (āstikyam) - faith; विप्रकर्म (viprakarma) - duties of a Brahmin; स्वभावजम् (svabhāvajam) - born of one's nature;]
Calmness, self-control, austerity, purity, forbearance, uprightness, knowledge, wisdom, and faith are the duties of a Brahmin, qualities born of one's nature.
एते गुणाः किञ्चिदोनाः विप्रात् क्षत्रिय एव च। अधिका वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः केषुचित् चक्रवर्तिषु॥
ete guṇāḥ kiñcidonāḥ viprāt kṣatriya eva ca। adhikā vā brāhmaṇebhyaḥ keṣucit cakravartiṣu॥
[एते (ete) - these; गुणाः (guṇāḥ) - qualities; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - somewhat; उना (unā) - less; विप्रात् (viprāt) - than those distinguished in wisdom; क्षत्रिय (kṣatriya) - a Kshatriya; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; अधिकाः (adhikāḥ) - greater; वा (vā) - or; ब्राह्मणेभ्यः (brāhmaṇebhyaḥ) - than Brahmins; केषुचित् (keṣucit) - in some; चक्रवर्तिषु (cakravartiṣu) - among emperors;]
These qualities are slightly less in a Kshatriya compared to those distinguished wise ones, or greater in some emperors than in Brahmins.
ऋषयस्त्वेव विज्नेयाः कार्तवीर्यादयो न्रुपाः। शौर्यं तेजो ध्रुतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम्॥
ṛṣayastveva vijñeyāḥ kārtavīryādayo nr̥pāḥ। śauryaṃ tejo dhr̥tirdākṣyaṃ yuddhe cāpyapalāyanam॥
[ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ) - sages; तु (tu) - but; एव (eva) - indeed; विज्नेयाः (vijñeyāḥ) - to be known; कार्तवीर्यादयः (kārtavīryādayaḥ) - like Kārtavīrya; न्रुपाः (nr̥pāḥ) - kings; शौर्यम् (śauryam) - valor; तेजः (tejaḥ) - brilliance; धृतिः (dhr̥tiḥ) - steadfastness; दाक्ष्यम् (dākṣyam) - skill; युद्धे (yuddhe) - in battle; च (ca) - and; अपलायनम् (apalāyanam) - non-retreating;]
Sages, however, are indeed to be known as kings like Kārtavīrya, with valor, brilliance, steadfastness, skill, and non-retreating in battle.
दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्ष्त्रियेऽन्ये गुणा अपि। क्षत्रियोनब्रह्मगुणो वैश्यः कृष्यादिजीवनः॥
dānam īśvarabhāvaś ca kṣtriyeṉye guṇā api। kṣatriyo na brahmaguṇo vaiśyaḥ kṛṣyādijīvanaḥ॥
[दानम् (dānam) - charity; ईश्वरभावः (īśvarabhāvaḥ) - lordliness; च (ca) - and; क्ष्त्रिये (kṣtriye) - in a Kshatriya; अन्ये (anye) - other; गुणाः (guṇāḥ) - qualities; अपि (api) - also; क्षत्रियः (kṣatriyaḥ) - a Kshatriya; न (na) - not; ब्रह्मगुणः (brahmaguṇaḥ) - Brahmin qualities; वैश्यः (vaiśyaḥ) - a Vaishya; कृष्यादिजीवनः (kṛṣyādijīvanaḥ) - living by agriculture and other means;]
Charity, lordliness, and other qualities are inherent in a Kshatriya, not to be found in a Brahmin. A Vaishya's livelihood is through agriculture and related activities.
तत ऊनः शमाद्यैः यः शुश्रूषुः शूद्र उच्यते। अधिकाश्चेद् गुणाः शूद्रे ब्राह्मणादिः स उच्यते॥
tata ūnaḥ śamādyaiḥ yaḥ śuśrūṣuḥ śūdra ucyate। adhikāśced guṇāḥ śūdre brāhmaṇādiḥ sa ucyate॥
[तत् (tat) - that; ऊनः (ūnaḥ) - less; शमाद्यैः (śamādyaiḥ) - by calmness and others; यः (yaḥ) - who; शुश्रूषुः (śuśrūṣuḥ) - servant; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called; अधिकाः (adhikāḥ) - more; चेत् (cet) - if; गुणाः (guṇāḥ) - qualities; शूद्रे (śūdre) - in a Shudra; ब्राह्मणादिः (brāhmaṇādiḥ) - a Brahmin and others; सः (saḥ) - he; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called;]
A person who lacks calmness and similar qualities is termed a Shudra. However, if a Shudra possesses more qualities, he is considered equivalent to a Brahmin or higher.
ब्राह्मणोऽप्यल्पगुणकः शूद्र एवेति कीर्तितः। नरोऽपि यो देवगुणो ज्ञेयो देवो नृतां गतः॥
brāhmaṇo'pyalpaguṇakaḥ śūdra eveti kīrtitaḥ। naro'pi yo devaguṇo jñeyo devo nṛtāṃ gataḥ॥
[ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a Brahmin; अपि (api) - even; अल्प (alpa) - little; गुणकः (guṇakaḥ) - virtue; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra; एव (eva) - indeed; इति (iti) - thus; कीर्तितः (kīrtitaḥ) - is called; नरः (naraḥ) - a man; अपि (api) - even; यः (yaḥ) - who; देव (deva) - divine; गुणः (guṇaḥ) - qualities; ज्ञेयः (jñeyaḥ) - is known; देवः (devaḥ) - a god; नृताम् (nṛtām) - of men; गतः (gataḥ) - gone;]
A Brahmin with little virtue is indeed called a Shudra. A man who possesses divine qualities is known as a god among men.
इति च।
iti ca।
[इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and;]
- stated thus, as well.
"स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य"
"svakarmaṇā tamabhyarcya"
[स्व (sva) - one's own; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by duty; तम् (tam) - him; अभ्यर्च्य (abhyarcya) - worshipping;]
"Worship him by performing your own duties"
इति वचनाच्च क्षत्रियादिष्वपि शमाद्यनुवृत्तिः ज्ञायते। न हि शमादिकं विना तस्य अभितोऽर्चनं भवति। सम्यक् शमादिभिः अर्चनं हि अभ्यर्चनम्। न हि शमादीन् विना सिद्धिं विन्दति।
iti vacanācca kṣatriyādiṣvapi śamādyanuvṛttiḥ jñāyate। na hi śamādikaṃ vinā tasya abhito'rcanaṃ bhavati। samyak śamādibhiḥ arcanaṃ hi abhyarcanam। na hi śamādīn vinā siddhiṃ vindati।
[इति (iti) - thus; वचनात् (vacanāt) - from the statement; च (ca) - and; क्षत्रियादिषु (kṣatriyādiṣu) - among the Kshatriyas and others; अपि (api) - also; शम (śama) - calmness; आदि (ādi) - and others; अनुवृत्तिः (anuvṛttiḥ) - continuation; ज्ञायते (jñāyate) - is known; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; शमादिकं (śamādikaṃ) - calmness and others; विना (vinā) - without; तस्य (tasya) - his; अभितः (abhitaḥ) - around; अर्चनं (arcanaṃ) - worship; भवति (bhavati) - happens; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; शमादिभिः (śamādibhiḥ) - with calmness and others; अर्चनं (arcanaṃ) - worship; हि (hi) - indeed; अभ्यर्चनम् (abhyarcanam) - proper worship; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; शमादीन् (śamādīn) - calmness and others; विना (vinā) - without; सिद्धिं (siddhiṃ) - success; विन्दति (vindati) - finds;]
From such statements it is understood that even among the Kshatriyas and others, the practice of calmness and similar qualities is observed. Without these qualities, true worship cannot occur. Proper worship is indeed achieved with calmness and similar virtues. Without them, success is not possible.
"यज्ञदानतपः कर्म न त्याज्यम्"
"yajñadānatapaḥ karma na tyājyam"
[यज्ञ (yajña) - sacrifice; दान (dāna) - charity; तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; कर्म (karma) - action; न (na) - not; त्याज्यम् (tyājyam) - to be abandoned;]
"Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should never be given up"
इत्युक्तत्वाच्च।
ityuktatvācca।
[इति (iti) - thus; उक्त (ukta) - said; त्वात् (tvāt) - because of; च (ca) - and / as well;]
- it is stated thus as well.
"शमोमन्निष्ठता बुद्धेः दम इंद्रियनिग्रहः"
"śamomanniṣṭhatā buddheḥ dama indriyaniigrahaḥ"
[शमः (śamaḥ) - calmness; अन्निष्ठता (anniṣṭhatā) - steadfastness; बुद्धेः (buddheḥ) - of the intellect; दमः (damaḥ) - self-control; इंद्रियनिग्रहः (indriyaniigrahaḥ) - control of the senses;]
"Calmness and steadfastness of the intellect, along with self-control and control of the senses, are essential virtues"
इत्युक्त्वाच्च भागवते।
ity uktvā ca bhāgavate।
[इति (iti) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having said; च (ca) - and; भागवते (bhāgavate) - in bhāgavata Purana;]
- stated thus in the Bhagavata Purana.
न च क्षत्रियादिभिरपि शौचतपःशमादिभिः हीनैः भवितव्यमिति तत्तद्धर्मेषु उच्यते।
na ca kṣatriyādibhirapi śaucatapaḥśamādibhiḥ hīnaiḥ bhavitavyamiti tattaddharmeṣu ucyate।
[न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; क्षत्रियादिभिः (kṣatriyādibhiḥ) - by Kshatriyas and others; अपि (api) - also; शौचतपःशमादिभिः (śaucatapaḥśamādibhiḥ) - by purity, austerity, and control, etc.; हीनैः (hīnaiḥ) - without; भवितव्यम् (bhavitavyam) - should be; इति (iti) - thus; तत्तद्धर्मेषु (tattaddharmeṣu) - in various duties; उच्यते (ucyate) - it is said;]
It is stated that in various duties, even Kshatriyas and others should not be devoid of purity, austerity, and control.
युक्ता हि एतैः सर्वैः र्गुणैः जनकतुलाधारादयः। अतो युद्धकाले अपलायनं ऐश्वर्यं च क्षत्रियस्य विशेषगुणौ।
yuktā hi etaiḥ sarvaiḥ rguṇaiḥ janakatulādhārādayaḥ। ato yuddhakāle apalāyanaṃ aiśvaryaṃ ca kṣatriyasya viśeṣaguṇau।
[युक्ता (yuktā) - endowed; हि (hi) - indeed; एतैः (etaiḥ) - with these; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - all; र्गुणैः (rguṇaiḥ) - qualities; जनकतुलाधारादयः (janakatulādhārādayaḥ) - Janaka, Tuladhara, etc.; अतः (ataḥ) - therefore; युद्धकाले (yuddhakāle) - in time of war; अपलायनं (apalāyanam) - non-retreat; ऐश्वर्यं (aiśvaryam) - sovereignty; च (ca) - and; क्षत्रियस्य (kṣatriyasya) - of a Kshatriya; विशेषगुणौ (viśeṣaguṇau) - special qualities;]
Janaka, Tuladhara, and others are indeed endowed with all these qualities. Therefore, during times of war, non-retreat and sovereignty are the special qualities of a Kshatriya.
तौ च, कृष्यादयः, जीवनार्थं शुश्रूषा, याजनं, जीवनार्थं प्रतिग्रहश्चेत्येत एव अन्येषां परधर्माः।
tau ca, kṛṣyādayaḥ, jīvanārthaṃ śuśrūṣā, yājanaṃ, jīvanārthaṃ pratigrahaścetyeta eva anyeṣāṃ paradharmāḥ।
[तौ (tau) - they; च (ca) - and; कृष्यादयः (kṛṣyādayaḥ) - agriculture and others; जीवनार्थं (jīvanārthaṃ) - for livelihood; शुश्रूषा (śuśrūṣā) - service; याजनं (yājanaṃ) - sacrifice; जीवनार्थं (jīvanārthaṃ) - for livelihood; प्रतिग्रहः (pratigrahaḥ) - acceptance; च (ca) - and; इति (iti) - thus; एते (ete) - these; एव (eva) - indeed; अन्येषां (anyeṣāṃ) - of others; परधर्माः (paradharmāḥ) - duties;]
Agriculture and other activities, service for livelihood, sacrifices, acceptance for livelihood, and others are indeed the duties of others.
"शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं दानं च क्षत्रियेधिकाः। तद्धीना ब्राह्मणे तस्माद् वैश्ये शूद्रे ततोऽल्पकाः॥
"śauryaṁ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ dānaṁ ca kṣatriyedhikāḥ। taddhīnā brāhmaṇe tasmād vaiśye śūdre tato'lpakāḥ॥
[शौर्यम् (śauryam) - valor; तेजः (tejaḥ) - brilliance; धृतिः (dhṛtiḥ) - steadfastness; दाक्ष्यम् (dākṣyam) - skill; दानम् (dānam) - charity; च (ca) - and; क्षत्रिये (kṣatriye) - in a Kshatriya; अधिकाः (adhikāḥ) - predominant; तत् (tat) - that; हीनाः (hīnāḥ) - lesser; ब्राह्मणे (brāhmaṇe) - in a Brahmin; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - than that; वैश्ये (vaiśye) - in a Vaishya; शूद्रे (śūdre) - in a Shudra; ततः (tataḥ) - than that; अल्पकाः (alpakaḥ) - even less;]
"Valor, brilliance, steadfastness, skill, and charity are qualities predominantly found in Kshatriyas, less so in Brahmins, even less in Vaishyas, and least in Shudras.
अध्यापनं च शुश्रूषा जीवनार्थमृते सताम्। विप्रादिषु क्रमात् ज्ञेयाः शूद्रस्याध्यापनं विना॥
adhyāpanaṃ ca śuśrūṣā jīvanārthamṛte satām। viprādiṣu kramāt jñeyāḥ śūdrasyādhyāpanaṃ vinā॥
[अध्यापनं (adhyāpanam) - teaching; च (ca) - and; शुश्रूषा (śuśrūṣā) - caring; जीवनार्थम् (jīvanārtham) - for livelihood; ऋते (ṛte) - except; सताम् (satām) - of the virtuous; विप्रादिषु (viprādiṣu) - among the learned; क्रमात् (kramāt) - in order; ज्ञेयाः (jñeyāḥ) - should be known; शूद्रस्य (śūdrasya) - of the Shudra; अध्यापनं (adhyāpanam) - teaching; विना (vinā) - without;]
(Teaching and service are for livelihood except for the virtuous. Among the learned, in order, should be known, without teaching of the Shudra.)
Teaching and caring are meant as livelihood among the learned, except for the virtuous. It should be known that teaching is not meant for the Shudra.
तस्मात् शूद्रोऽल्पशुश्रूषुः स्वभावात् जीवनं विना। एते नैसर्गिका भावाः स्याद्भावोऽन्योपि कुत्रचित्। बलाद् विरुद्धभावस्तु हेयः स्वाभाविकोऽपि यः॥
tasmāt śūdro'lpaśuśrūṣuḥ svabhāvāt jīvanaṃ vinā। ete naisargikā bhāvāḥ syādbhāvo'nyopi kutracit। balād viruddhabhāvastu heyaḥ svābhāviko'pi yaḥ॥
[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; शूद्रः (śūdraḥ) - a Shudra; अल्प (alpa) - little; शुश्रूषुः (śuśrūṣuḥ) - service; स्वभावात् (svabhāvāt) - by nature; जीवनम् (jīvanam) - life; विना (vinā) - without; एते (ete) - these; नैसर्गिकाः (naisargikāḥ) - natural; भावाः (bhāvāḥ) - states; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; भावः (bhāvaḥ) - state; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; अपि (api) - also; कुत्रचित् (kutracit) - somewhere; बलात् (balāt) - by force; विरुद्धभावः (viruddhabhāvaḥ) - contrary state; तु (tu) - but; हेयः (heyaḥ) - to be rejected; स्वाभाविकः (svābhāvikaḥ) - natural; अपि (api) - even; यः (yaḥ) - which;]
Therefore, a Shudra, by nature, has little inclination for service without it serving as livelihood. These are natural states, but sometimes another state may exist. However, a contrary state imposed by force, even if it seems natural, should be rejected.
अनिसर्गोपि हि शुभो वर्धनीयः प्रयत्नतः। याजनैश्वर्यपूर्वास्तु नान्यैः कार्याः शुभा अपि। अपलायनं च शूद्राणां ब्रह्मक्षत्रार्थमिष्यते॥"
anisargopi hi śubho vardhanīyaḥ prayatnataḥ। yājanaiśvaryapūrvāstu nānyaiḥ kāryāḥ śubhā api। apalāyanaṃ ca śūdrāṇāṃ brahmakṣatrārthamiṣyate॥"
[अनिसर्गः (anisargaḥ) - natural state; अपि (api) - even; हि (hi) - indeed; शुभः (śubhaḥ) - auspicious; वर्धनीयः (vardhanīyaḥ) - to be increased; प्रयत्नतः (prayatnataḥ) - with effort; याजन (yājana) - sacrifice; ऐश्वर्य (aiśvarya) - prosperity; पूर्वाः (pūrvāḥ) - preceded by; तु (tu) - but; न (na) - not; अन्यैः (anyaiḥ) - by others; कार्याः (kāryāḥ) - to be done; शुभाः (śubhāḥ) - auspicious; अपि (api) - even; अपलायनं (apalāyanaṃ) - non-retreat; च (ca) - and; शूद्राणां (śūdrāṇāṃ) - of the Shudras; ब्रह्म (brahma) - Brahmins; क्षत्र (kṣatra) - Kshatriyas; अर्थं (arthaṃ) - for the sake of; इष्यते (iṣyate) - is desired;]
Even naturally auspicious things require effort to grow. Sacrifices that bring prosperity should be conducted by the right people, not others, even if they seem beneficial. The steadfastness of the Shudras is valued for the benefit of Brahmins and Kshatriyas."
इति च।
iti ca।
[इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and;]
- stated thus, as well.
