sauryam tejo dhritir daksyam yuddhe capy apalayanam danam isvara-bhavas ca ksatram karma svabhava-jam
Heroism, vigor, steadiness, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity, and lordly nature — these are the duties of the kshatriya born of their own nature. The warrior class is defined by courage, honor, and protective leadership.
- •Kshatriya dharma centers on courage, skill, steadiness, and leadership
- •Not fleeing from battle is a specific and solemn duty of the warrior
- •Generosity and noble bearing elevate kshatriya duty beyond mere fighting
krsi-goraksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam paricaryatmakam karma sudrasyapi svabhava-jam
Agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade are the natural duties of the vaishya, and service is the natural duty of the shudra. Each class has a distinct and honorable field of contribution to the social whole.
- •Vaishya dharma encompasses farming, animal husbandry, and commerce
- •Shudra dharma is service — a role Krishna treats with respect and dignity
- •Every varna's duty is 'svabhava-jam' — born from natural inner inclination
sve sve karmany abhiratah samsiddhim labhate narah sva-karma-niratah siddhim yatha vindati tac chrinu
Each person attains perfection by being devoted to their own duty. Hear now how one who is intent on their own duty finds that perfection. Krishna affirms that fulfillment comes through wholehearted engagement with one's own dharmic work.
- •Perfection is available to every person through devotion to their own duty
- •No varna or occupation is inherently superior — all lead to perfection when done rightly
- •Total dedication to svadharma is the universal path to samsiddhi
yatah pravrittir bhutanam yena sarvam idam tatam sva-karmana tam abhyarcya siddhim vindati manavah
By worshipping through one's own duty the One from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person finds perfection. Every form of work becomes worship when offered to the Supreme who pervades all existence.
- •The divine source pervades all beings and all existence
- •Any work becomes worship when dedicated to the divine pervader
- •Svadharma performed as divine worship is itself the path to liberation
sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat sv-anusthitat sva-bhava-niyatam karma kurvan napnoti kilbisam
Better is one's own duty, though imperfectly performed, than the duty of another well performed. By performing duty ordained by one's own nature, one does not incur sin. This echoes the teaching of chapter three on the primacy of svadharma.
- •Imperfect svadharma is superior to perfectly executed paradharma
- •One's natural duty shields one from sin even when executed imperfectly
- •Authenticity to one's own nature is the basis of dharmic living