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Bhagavad Gita 18.41 meaningLetting go — and standing up

In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it

“People have different gifts: teachers, protectors, makers and helpers.”

What it means

“The different roles in society — thinkers and teachers, leaders and protectors, traders and farmers, and workers — are shaped by the qualities of each person's nature.”

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The original Sanskrit

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप । कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः ॥

brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca parantapa karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāvaprabhavairguṇaiḥ

Translations

Literal translation

O scorcher of enemies, the duties of the Brahmanas, the Ksatriyas and the Vaisyas, as also of the Sudras have been fully classified according to the gunas born from Nature.

Swami Gambhirananda

हिंदी अनुवाद

हे परन्तप! ब्राह्मणों, क्षत्रियों, वैश्यों और शूद्रों के कर्म, स्वभाव से उत्पन्न गुणों के अनुसार विभक्त किये गये हैं।

Swami Tejomayananda

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Commentaries

How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.

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Keep reading · 18.42“The natural work of a thinker or teacher: calm, self-control, discipline, purity, patience, honesty, knowledge, experience and faith.”