FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 18.46

यत: प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् । स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानव: ॥ ४६ ॥
yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāṁ
[yatah pravrittir bhootaanaam]
yena sarvam idaṁ tatam
[yena sarvam idam tatam]
sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya
[sva-karmanaa tam abhyarchya]
siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ
[siddhim vindati maanavah]
Word-for-word
yataḥ — from whom pravṛttiḥ — the emanation bhūtānām — of all living entities yena — by whom sarvam — all idam — this tatam — is pervaded sva - karmaṇā — by his own duties tam — Him abhyarcya — by worshiping siddhim — perfection vindati — achieves mānavaḥ — a man .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāṁ
yataḥ
from whom
pravṛttiḥ
the emanation
bhūtānām
of all living entities
yena sarvam idaṁ tatam
yena
by whom
sarvam
all
idam
this
tatam
is pervaded
sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya
sva - karmaṇā
by his own duties
tam
Him
abhyarcya
by worshiping
siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ
siddhim
perfection
vindati
achieves
mānavaḥ
a man .
Important Words
  • pravṛttiḥ — the emanation
    From pra-vṛt — to come forth. The Lord is the source — *from* whom the manifestation of beings flows. The verse roots itself first in His role as origin (pravṛtti).
  • tatam — is pervaded
    Past participle of tan — to stretch, pervade. The Lord is also the all-pervader. Both manifest source and immanent presence — origin and field together. Worship is offered to *this* Lord.
  • sva-karmaṇā — by one's own work
    Instrumental. The *means* of worship is precisely the sva-karma of verse 45. The verse converts varṇa-karma into Lord-worship — its theological pivot.
  • abhyarcya — by worshiping
    Gerund of abhi-arc — to worship fully. Sva-karma is not merely 'permitted'; it is *the very act of worship*. Work becomes pūjā.
  • vindati — achieves
    From vid — to find. With siddhim: attains perfection. Same verb as verse 45 — but now its mechanism is explicit. Perfection comes not just from doing one's work but from doing it as worship.
By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, a man can attain perfection through performing his own work.
Classical Sanskrit analysis शास्त्रीय विश्लेषण
How Sanskrit scholars read this verse — split, rearranged, grammar-tagged. For the plain English distilled meaning, jump to Plain meaning below.
Auto-generated study layers — original analysis of the public-domain śloka. Review against a published edition for academic work.
Plain meaning (तात्पर्य · Tātparya)
Sva-karma becomes spiritual practice when offered to the One from whom all activity arises and by whom all is pervaded. The work itself, done as worship, is the path. This is karma-yoga's deepest formulation.
Further notes (विवरण · Vivaraṇa)
A landmark verse for karma-yoga as worship (sva-karma-arcanam). The two relative clauses identify the divine: source of all pravṛtti and pervader of all. Work offered to such a Reality is itself liturgy. The verse silently dignifies even śūdra service-work as a valid spiritual path — the criterion is abhyarcya (offering), not the social rank of the labor.
Prose order (अन्वय · Anvaya)
यतः भूतानां प्रवृत्तिः, येन सर्वम् इदं ततम् — तं स्व-कर्मणा अभ्यर्च्य मानवः सिद्धिं विन्दति ।
yataḥ bhūtānāṃ pravṛttiḥ, yena sarvam idaṃ tatam — taṃ sva-karmaṇā abhyarcya mānavaḥ siddhiṃ vindati |
From whom is the activity of all beings, by whom all this is pervaded — worshiping Him through his own work, a person attains perfection.
Word split (पदच्छेद · Padaccheda)
यतः प्रवृत्तिः भूतानां येन सर्वम् इदं ततम् । स्व-कर्मणा तम् अभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः ॥
yataḥ pravṛttiḥ bhūtānāṃ yena sarvam idaṃ tatam | sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ ||
Grammar (व्याकरण · Vyākaraṇa)
SanskritIASTGrammarMeaning
यतः yataḥ ind. (abl.) from whom
प्रवृत्तिः pravṛttiḥ प्रवृत्ति (f.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) activity, origination
भूतानाम् bhūtānām भूत (n.) gen.pl. (genitive plural) of beings
येन yena यद् (pron. (pronoun)) ins.sg. (instrumental singular)m. by whom
सर्वम् sarvam सर्व (pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. all
इदम् idam इदम् (pron. (pronoun)) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. this
ततम् tatam √तन् p.p.p. (past passive participle) nom.sg. (nominative singular)n. pervaded
स्व-कर्मणा sva-karmaṇā tatpuruṣa cpd. (compound) ins.sg. (instrumental singular)n. by one's own work
तम् tam तद् (pron. (pronoun)) acc.sg. (accusative singular)m. Him
अभ्यर्च्य abhyarcya अभि + √अर्च् abs. (absolutive) having worshiped
सिद्धिम् siddhim सिद्धि (f.) acc.sg. (accusative singular) perfection
विन्दति vindati √विद् pres. (present) 3sg.par. (parasmaipada / active voice) obtains
मानवः mānavaḥ मानव (m.) nom.sg. (nominative singular) a human being
Purport

As stated in the Fifteenth Chapter, all living beings are fragmental parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord. Thus the Supreme Lord is the beginning of all living entities. This is confirmed in the Vedānta-sūtra – janmādy asya yataḥ. The Supreme Lord is therefore the beginning of life of every living entity. And as stated in the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā, the Supreme Lord, by His two energies, His external energy and internal energy, is all-pervading. Therefore one should worship the Supreme Lord with His energies. Generally the Vaiṣṇava devotees worship the Supreme Lord with His internal energy. His external energy is a perverted reflection of the internal energy. The external energy is a background, but the Supreme Lord by the expansion of His plenary portion as Paramātmā is situated everywhere. He is the Supersoul of all demigods, all human beings, all animals, everywhere. One should therefore know that as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord one has his duty to render service unto the Supreme. Everyone should be engaged in devotional service to the Lord in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness. That is recommended in this verse. Everyone should think that he is engaged in a particular type of occupation by Hṛṣīkeśa, the master of the senses. And by the result of the work in which one is engaged, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, should be worshiped. If one thinks always in this way, in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then, by the grace of the Lord, he becomes fully aware of everything. That is the perfection of life. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (12.7), teṣām ahaṁ samuddhartā. The Supreme Lord Himself takes charge of delivering such a devotee. That is the highest perfection of life. In whatever occupation one may be engaged, if he serves the Supreme Lord he will achieve the highest perfection.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
46. Men achieve success by worshiping the Lord who is the origin of all entities and is spread everywhere, through mentally offering their prescribed duties.
Commentary

Humans attain perfection by worshipping (abhyarcya) through their prescribed work Him alone, the Supreme Lord, from whom arise the activities of all living entities. The worship consists of offering the work in the mind, thinking, “By this work may the Lord be satisfied.”

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
46. Men achieve steadiness in jñāna by worshiping the Lord who is the origin of all entities and is spread everywhere, through mentally offering their prescribed duties.
Commentary

From the Lord arise (pravṛttiḥ) all the living entities. By Him the whole universe is pervaded (tatam). Worshipping that Lord who is situated as the soul of all the devatās such as Indra by ones activities— offering the act to Him after performing them by thinking “May the Lord be satisfied with the act,” men attain steadiness in jñāna (siddhim).

Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study Key verse
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

One can become perfect by doing all the duties of his respective varna for the “Lord’s pleasure”

By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all pervading
Focus of Learning

Srila Prabhupada elaborates in this purport on how one’s work—although within the modes of material

nature—can be practically turned into bhakti through niskama-karma-yoga

(a) Supreme Lord is the beginning of all living entities – This is supported by the following references:

Bg. 15.7 – Living entities as fragmental parts and parcels
Vedanta-sutra – “janmady asya yatah…”
Bg. Chapter 7 – Lord is all pervading by His external and internal energies

(b) Result of knowing the Lord as the source – This leads to “Worship of him”

Worship Supreme Lord with His energies
How Vaishnavas worship – Worship Lord especially with His internal energy
But what about external energy?
His external energy is a perverted reflection of internal energy
The external energy is a background, but the Supreme Lord by the expansion as Paramatma is situated everywhere, in all the demigods, human beings, animals etc.
Therefore recommendation given: Perform your duty to render service unto Him –Senses to be engaged in service of Hrsikesa, the master of the senses

(c) Reciprocation of the Lord (Ref. Bg. 12.7) – Supreme Lord Himself takes charge of delivering such a

devotee

Whatever occupation one may be engaged, if he serves the Lord, he will achieve the highest perfection
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
18.46 Manavah, a human being; vindati, achieves; siddhim, success, merely in the form of the ability for steadfastness in Knowledge; abhyarcya, by adoring, worshipping; svakarmana, with his own duties stated above, as allotted to each caste; tam, Him, God; yatah, from whom, from which God; comes pravrttih, origin,-or, from which internal Ruler comes the activities; ;bhutanam, of creatures, of living beings; and yena, by whom, by which God; is tatam, pervaded; sarvam, all; idam, this world. Since this is so, therefore,
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
18.46 He from whom arise all activities as origination of all beings and by whom all this is pervaded, by worshipping Him, i.e., Myself, who abide in Indra and other divinites as the Inner Ruler, man attains perfection, consisting in the attainment of Myself by My grace. It has been told before that everything originates from Me and all this is pervaded by Me, in texts like the following: 'I am the origin and dissolution of the whole universe' (7.6), 'There is nothing higher than Myself, O Arjuna' (7.7), 'This entire universe is pervaded by Me in an unmanifest form' (9.4), 'Under My supervision, the Prakrti gives birth to all mobile and immobile entities' (9.10) and 'I am the origin of all; from Me proceed everything' (10.8).
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
18.46 See Comment under 18.60
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
18.46 He from Whom all the beings have evolved and by Whom all this is pervaded worshipping Him with his own duty, man attains perfection.
Commentary

18.46 यतः from whom? प्रवृत्तिः (is) the evolution? भूतानाम् of beings? येन by whom? सर्वम् all? इदम् this? ततम् is pervaded? स्वकर्मणा with his own duty? तम् Him? अभ्यर्च्य worshipping? सिद्धिम् perfection? विन्दति attains? मानवः man.Commentary The performance by a man of his own duty is simply carrying into effect the intention of the Supreme from Whom the whole of the creation emanates. When a man worships Him? the Supreme Being? with the flowers of his action? then He is immensely pleased and being thus gratified by such worship He confers on Him? as a boon? dispassion and discrimination.Pravritti Evolution or activity it proceeds from the Lord? the Antaryamin? the Inner Ruler.Bhutanam Beings living creatures.Svakarmana With his own duty each according to his caste as described above.Man attains perfection by worshipping the Lord by performing his own duty? i.e.? he becomes alified for the dawn of Selfknowledge (for Jnana Yoga).

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
18.46 A human being achieves success by adoring through his own duties Him from whom is the origin of creatures, and by whom is all this pervaded.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
18.46 Man reaches perfection by dedicating his actions to God, Who is the source of all being, and fills everything.
Related values & verses
Related values
Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Ahimsa (Non-violence / Compassion)Tapas (Austerity / Discipline)Guru Bhakti (Reverence for Teacher)Atma Nigraha (Self-control)Maitri (Friendship / Goodwill)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)
Related verses
BG 9.27 BG 12.10 BG 11.55 SB 11.14.21 SB 11.29.9 SB 7.11.35 CC Madhya 8.58 CC Madhya 22.124 CC Madhya 19.50 Īśa Upaniṣad 1 Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.7
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
By worshiping Him from whom all beings come, who pervades all — by his own work, a man attains perfection.
Practical Applications
  • Treat your work as worship of the Lord who pervades all.
  • Frame the offering deliberately.
  • Don't separate work from worship.
Reflection Questions
  • How does my work currently relate to worship?
  • What integration is being asked?
Analogy

Every river finds the ocean. The plowman, the warrior, the merchant, the servant — each pours his work back into the source of all beings, and the same ocean receives them all. The vehicle differs; the destination is one.

Stories
Tulādhāra the merchant

In the Mahābhārata, the sage Jājali learns from the simple merchant Tulādhāra of Vārāṇasī that his weighing-scale, kept perfectly honest and offered to dharma, is itself a path to the highest. Tulādhāra never left his shop.

By worshiping the Lord through impeccable sva-karma — fair weights, honest pricing, no exploitation — he reached what the most austere sages reached. The verse 18.46 is precisely the principle Jājali was taught.

Vyādha the butcher

The Mahābhārata also recounts how the brāhmaṇa Kauśika is sent to learn from a butcher in Mithilā. The butcher performs his prescribed duty without pride and without shirking, serves his parents with full devotion, and worships the Lord through his work itself.

The brāhmaṇa, who had become proud of his recitation, learns that the butcher's sva-karma offered to the Lord is the same perfection-path that he had sought through study. Sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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