Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18, Verse 45

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरत: संसिद्धिं लभते नर: |
स्वकर्मनिरत: सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु || 45||

sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ sansiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ
sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tach chhṛiṇu

sve sve—respectively; karmaṇi—work; abhirataḥ—fulfilling; sansiddhim—perfection; labhate—achieve; naraḥ—a person; sva-karma—to one’s own prescribed duty; nirataḥ—engaged; siddhim—perfection; yathā—as; vindati—attains; tat—that; śhṛiṇu—hear

Translation:

By fulfilling their duties, born of their innate qualities, human beings can attain perfection. Now hear from Me how one can become perfect by discharging one’s prescribed duties.

Commentary:

Devoted to the duties and functions of his own caste derived from his own nature, man can attain the highest perfection. How this miracle is achieved is the secret of Karma Yoga. These duties should be performed in the true spirit of surrendering the fruit to the Lord. By performing one’s own duties without attachment to the fruits, man releases himself from the binding effects of Karma which is the cause of Samsara. Since the majority of men are compelled by their very nature to engage themselves in their respective duties, the best way for such is to continue their work in a spirit of self-surrender to the Lord. By such detached action, the mind is purified and the Self is realised. Thus Karma is the way to Atmajnana through the purification of the mind.

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Swami Vivekananda Says —

The Bhagavad Gita frequently alludes to duties dependent upon birth and position in life. Birth and position in life and in society largely determine the mental and moral attitude of individuals towards the various activities of life. It is therefore our duty to do that work which will exalt and ennoble us in accordance with the ideals and activities of the society in which we are born.^[Source])

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Question: How does man attain perfection while engaged in his own duty?

Answer: By performing his prescribed duties and functions without attachment and in the true spirit of self-surrender to the Lord, man attains perfections.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18 🔻 (78 Verses)

01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78