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कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम्।परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम्।।18.44।।

kṛiṣhi-gau-rakṣhya-vāṇijyaṁ vaiśhya-karma svabhāva-jam paricharyātmakaṁ karma śhūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 18, Verse 44
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
Agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade are the duties of the Vaisya (merchant), born of their own nature; and service is the duty of the Sudra (servant-class), born of their own nature.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: agriculture, cattle-rearing, and trade are the natural duties of merchants, service is the natural duty of laborers, completing the fourfold description with roles oriented toward production, exchange, and service.

In life: roles oriented toward practical production, exchange, and service are just as legitimate and necessary as more contemplative or leadership-oriented roles, and this chapter treats them with the same seriousness rather than ranking them as somehow lesser.

Teaching: if your own genuine strengths lie in practical production, exchange, or service rather than contemplation or leadership, don't undervalue that role, this verse treats it as an equally legitimate and necessary natural duty, not a lesser consolation option.

kṛiṣhiagriculture
gau-rakṣhyadairy farming
vāṇijyamcommerce
vaiśhyaof the mercantile and farming class
karmawork
svabhāva-jamborn of one’s intrinsic qualities
paricharyāserving through work
ātmakamnatural
karmaduty
śhūdrasyaof the worker class
apiand
svabhāva-jamborn of one’s intrinsic qualities

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
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.