Duty

Considering your own duty as well, you should not waver; for there is nothing better for a warrior than a righteous war.

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि | धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||२-३१||

These bodies of the eternal embodied self are said to come to an end, but the self itself is indestructible and immeasurable. Therefore fight, Bharata.

अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः | अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत ||२-१८||

One should not give up the work suited to one's nature, Kaunteya, even though it has faults; for all undertakings are enveloped by fault, as fire is by smoke.

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् | सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ||१८-४८||

Better is one's own duty, though imperfectly done, than the duty of another well performed. Doing the work ordained by one's own nature, one incurs no fault.

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ||१८-४७||

By worshiping, through his own work, the One from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person attains perfection.

यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् | स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः ||१८-४६||

When a prescribed action is performed simply because it ought to be done, Arjuna, giving up attachment and also the fruit — that relinquishment is regarded as sattvic.

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन | सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः ||१८-९||

Better is one's own duty, though imperfectly performed, than the duty of another well performed. Better is death in one's own duty; the duty of another brings danger.

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ||३-३५||

There is nothing in the three worlds, Partha, that I need to do, nothing unattained that I need to attain, yet I engage in action.

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन | नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ||३-२२||

Whatever a great person does, others do likewise; whatever standard he sets, the world follows.

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः | स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||३-२१||

Perform your prescribed action, for action is better than inaction; even the maintenance of your body could not be accomplished through inaction.

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः | शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ||३-८||

Either you will be killed and attain heaven, or you will conquer and enjoy the earth. Therefore rise, Kaunteya, resolved to fight.

हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् | तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ||२-३७||

But if you will not fight this righteous battle, then, forsaking your own duty and your honor, you will incur sin.

अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि | ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि ||२-३३||

Happy are the warriors, Partha, who obtain such a battle, which comes of its own accord and opens the door to heaven.

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् | सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ||२-३२||

Having taught the Veda, the teacher instructs the pupil: 'Speak the truth. Practice righteousness. Do not neglect study. Having brought the teacher his desired fee, do not cut off the thread of progeny. Do not swerve from the truth. Do not swerve from righteousness. Do not neglect welfare. Do not neglect prosperity. Do not neglect study and teaching.'

वेदमनूच्याचार्योन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति । सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः । आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः । सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् । स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् ॥ १॥

Bound by your own action born of your nature, Kaunteya, what you do not wish to do through delusion, you will do even against your will.

स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा | कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोपि तत् ||१८-६०||

If, taking refuge in egotism, you think "I will not fight," this resolve of yours is in vain; your own nature will compel you.

यदहंकारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे | मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति ||१८-५९||

Devoted each to his own duty, a person attains perfection. Hear now how one devoted to his own work attains perfection.

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः | स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु ||१८-४५||

Farming, cattle-herding, and trade make up the work of a vaishya, born of his own nature; and service is the work of a shudra, likewise born of his own nature.

कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् | परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ||१८-४४||

Heroism, vigor, fortitude, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity, and a lordly bearing — these make up the work of a kshatriya, born of his own nature.

शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् | दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ||१८-४३||

The renunciation of a prescribed action is not proper; giving it up through delusion is declared to be tamasic.

नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते | मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः ||१८-७||