FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Bhagavad-gītā 18.44

కృషిగోరక్ష్యవాణిజ్యం వైశ్యకర్మ స్వభావజమ్ । పరిచర్యాత్మకం కర్మ శ‍ూద్రస్యాపి స్వభావజమ్ ॥ ౪౪ ॥
kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ
[krishi-go-rakshya-vaanijyam]
vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam
[vaishya-karma svabhaava-jam]
paricaryātmakaṁ karma
[paricharyaatmakam karma]
śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam
[shoodrasyaapi svabhaava-jam]
Word-for-word
kṛṣi — plowing go — of cows rakṣya — protection vāṇijyam — trade vaiśya — of a vaiśya karma — duty svabhāva - jam — born of his own nature paricaryā — service ātmakam — consisting of karma — duty śūdrasya — of the śūdra api — also svabhāva - jam — born of his own nature .
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaṁ
kṛṣi
plowing
go
of cows
rakṣya
protection
vāṇijyam
trade
vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam
vaiśya
of a vaiśya
karma
duty
svabhāva - jam
born of his own nature
paricaryātmakaṁ karma
paricaryā
service
ātmakam
consisting of
karma
duty
śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam
śūdrasya
of the śūdra
api
also
svabhāva - jam
born of his own nature .
Important Words
  • kṛṣi — plowing, agriculture
    The foundational vaiśya activity. Food is the precondition for every other dharma. The verse begins with cultivation because civilization begins there.
  • rakṣya — protection
    With go — *cow-protection*. Not 'cow-keeping' — protection. The Vedic vaiśya is responsible for the cow's life and welfare, not for her exploitation. A heavily charged term in Gauḍīya thought.
  • vāṇijyam — trade
    Commercial exchange. The third vaiśya activity. The verse lists agriculture first, animal husbandry second, trade third — the order of foundational dependence.
  • paricaryā — service
    From pari-car — to attend. The śūdra's natural duty. The verse does not denigrate this; it dignifies it as a form of svabhāva-karma equal in spiritual potential to the others (cf. verse 46).
  • svabhāva-jam — born of one's own nature
    Repeated twice in the verse — once for vaiśya, once for śūdra. The whole point: each varṇa's work *fits its own nature*. None is being asked to do another's job.
Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaiśyas, and for the śūdras there are labor and service to others.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
44. The natural duties of the vaiśya are agriculture, raising cows, and commerce. The natural duty of the śūdra is service to the other varṇas.
Commentary

This verse describes the actions of the vaiśyas predominated by rajas with tamas as a secondary guṇa. Protecting the cows and commerce are the activities of the vaiśya. One who protects the cows is called go-rakṣaḥ. The state of protecting the cows is called go-rakṣyam. The verse also speaks of the śūdras in whom tamas predominates and rajas is secondary. Serving the vaiśyas, kṣatriyas and brāhmaṇas (paricaryātmikam) is the activity of the śūdra.

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa Gauḍīya
Translation
44. The natural duties of the vaiśya are agriculture, raising cows, and commerce. The natural duty of the śūdra is service to the other varṇas.
Commentary

The activities of the vaiśya are described. He tills the land with a plough for producing food crops. He raises and protects animals. He engages in buying and selling. Loaning money to increase wealth is also included. These are the natural activities of the vaiśya. Then the activity of the śūdra is described. The activity of the śūdra is to serve the twice born, those of the other three varṇas. These descriptions are representative of the activities of the four āśramas (not an exhaustive list).

Bhūrijana Dāsa Gauḍīya
Translation
Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaisyas, and for the sudras there is labor and service to others.
Study Notes — Gauranga Priya Dāsa
Gauranga Priya Dāsa Study
Bhakti-śāstrī Notes, ISKCON Chowpatty (2009)
Theme

COMMON THEME: 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
Classical Ācāryas
Śrī Śaṅkarācārya Classical
Translation
18.44 Svabyavajam, the natural; vaisya-karma, duties of the Vaisyas, of the Vaisya caste; are krsi-gauraksyavanijyam, agriculture, cattle rearing and trade: Krsi is tilling of land. Orre who rears cattle (go) is goraksa; the abstract form of that word is gauraksyam, animal-husbandry. Vanijyam means the occupation of a trader, consisting of buying and selling. Sudrasya, of the Sudra; api, too; svabhavajam, the natural; karma, duty; is paricaryatmakam, in the form of service. When rightly pursued, the natural result of these duties enjoined for the castes is the attainment of heaven-which act is evident from such Smrti texts as, 'People belonging to the castes and stages of life, who are true to their own duties, experience after death the fruit of their actions. And after that, as a result of the remnants of their merits they are born in some excellent region, caste and family, with greater piety, longevity, learning, conduct, wealth, happiness and intelligence' (Ap. Dh. Su. 2.2.2.3), etc. And in the Puranas also it is particularly mentioned that poeple belonging to the (different) castes and stages of life come to have specific results in the form of different worlds. But this result that is going to be stated follows from a different cause:
Śrī Rāmānujācārya Classical
Translation
18.44 'Agriculture' is cultivation to produce crops. The meaning of 'cattle breeding' is the protection and rearing of cattle. 'Trade' is the activity causing the amassing of wealth through buying and selling. This is the duty of Vaisya born of his inherent nature. The duty of a Sudra, born of his inherent nature, is service to the three Orders mentioned earlier. All these have been described to stress that the occupational activities of the four stations are auxiliary to the performance of sacrifices etc., which are ordained by the Sastra. Sacrifices etc., are common to the first three stations. Control of the senses etc., are common to those who, among the first three stations, are anxious for release. As a Brahmana possesses preponderance of Sattva, and as the control of the senses, mind etc., can be performed by him easily and naturally, control of the senses etc., have been prescribed as his duty. As control of the mind, senses etc., can be performed only with difficulty by the Ksatriyas and the Vaisyas owing to the preponderance of Rajas and Tamas respectively in them, these have not been stated as their duty. The occupation of a Brahmana is officiating as priest in sacrifices, teaching the Vedas and receiving gifts. The occupation of a Ksatriya is protecting the people and that of the Vaisyas is farming etc., as mentioned before. The duty and occupation of the Sudra is service to the three stations.
Śrī Abhinavagupta Classical
Translation
18.44 See Comment under 18.60
Swami Sivananda Classical
Translation
18.44 Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the duties of the Vaisya (merchant), born of (their own) nature; and action consisting of service is the duty of the Sudra (servant-class), born of (their own) nature.
Commentary

18.44 कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यम् agriculture? cattlerearing and trade? वैश्यकर्म the duties of Vaisya? स्वभावजम् born of nature? परिचर्यात्मकम् consisting of service? कर्म action? शूद्रस्य of the Sudra? अपि also? स्वभावजम् born of nature.Commentary When a man performs his duties rightly according to his caste and order of life his heart is purified and he goes to heaven. Apastambha Dharma Sutra declares? Men of severla,castes and orders? each devoted to his respective duties? reap the fruits of their actions after death? and then by the residual Karma attain to births in superior Dharma? span of life? learning? conduct? wealth? happiness and intelligence (2?2?2?3). There is a vivid description in the Puranas also of the different results and worlds which men of the four castes and orders obtain by discharging their respective duties.

Swami Gambhīrānanda Classical
Translation
18.44 The natural duties of the Vaisyas are agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade. Of the Sudras, too, the natural duty is in the form of service.
Shri Purohit Swami Classical
Translation
18.44 Agriculture, protection of the cow and trade are the duty of a trader, again in accordance with his nature. The duty of a servant is to serve, and that too agrees with his nature.
Related values & verses
Related values
Prema (Divine Love)Tyaga (Renunciation / Letting Go)Dana (Charity / Generosity)Karuna (Kindness / Compassion)Anahankarah (Freedom from False Ego)
Related verses
BG 4.13 BG 9.32 BG 18.41 SB 7.11.23 SB 11.17.18 SB 11.17.19 CC Madhya 8.58 CC Madhya 19.50 CC Antya 16.11 Chāndogya Upaniṣad 5.10.7Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4.13
Concepts
BhavaTamas
Study Q&A referencing this verse
Sciences essays referencing this verse
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Vaiśya qualities — agriculture, cow protection, business; śūdra duty — service.
Practical Applications
  • Honor every legitimate occupation as expression of varṇa.
  • Don't disparage trade or service.
  • Recognize the dignity of all four.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I disparaged a particular varṇa?
  • What does honoring all four require?
Analogy

The earth bears the plow, the cow feeds the village, the market connects the field to the distant town, and the laborer's strong arm enables every other arm to do its work. Four kinds of hands, one body of society. None of them are decorative; all of them are dharma.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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