18.41

brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāḿ
śūdrāṇāḿ ca paran-tapa
karmāṇi pravibhaktāni
svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ

Translation

Brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras are distinguished by the qualities born of their own natures in accordance with the material modes, O chastiser of the enemy.

18.42

śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaḿ
kṣāntir ārjavam eva ca
jñānaḿ vijñānam āstikyaḿ
brahma-karma svabhāva-jam

Translation

Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness—these are the natural qualities by which the brahmanas work.

18.43

śauryaḿ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaḿ
yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam
dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca
kṣātraḿ karma svabhāva-jam

Translation

Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kshatriyas.

18.44

kṛṣi-go-rakṣya-vāṇijyaḿ
vaiśya-karma svabhāva-jam
paricaryātmakaḿ karma
śūdrasyāpi svabhāva-jam

Translation

Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaishyas, and for the shudras there is labor and service to others.

18.45

sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ
saḿsiddhiḿ labhate naraḥ
sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiḿ
yathā vindati tac chṛṇu

Translation

By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done.

18.46

yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāḿ
yena sarvam idaḿ tatam
sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya
siddhiḿ vindati mānavaḥ

Translation

By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, a man can attain perfection through performing his own work.

18.47

śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ
para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataḿ karma
kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam

Translation

It is better to engage in one’s own occupation, even though one may perform it imperfectly, than to accept another’s occupation and perform it perfectly. Duties prescribed according to one’s nature are never affected by sinful reactions.

18.48

saha-jaḿ karma kaunteya
sa-doṣam api na tyajet
sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa
dhūmenāgnir ivāvṛtāḥ

Translation

Every endeavor is covered by some fault, just as fire is covered by smoke. Therefore one should not give up the work born of his nature, O son of Kunti, even if such work is full of fault.

18.49

asakta-buddhiḥ sarvatra
jitātmā vigata-spṛhaḥ
naiṣkarmya-siddhiḿ paramāḿ
sannyāsenādhigacchati

Translation

One who is self-controlled and unattached and who disregards all material enjoyments can obtain, by practice of renunciation, the highest perfect stage of freedom from reaction.

18.50

siddhiḿ prāpto yathā brahma
tathāpnoti nibodha me
samāsenaiva kaunteya
niṣṭhā jñānasya yā parā

Translation

O son of Kunti, learn from Me how one who has achieved this perfection can attain to the supreme perfectional stage, Brahman, the stage of highest knowledge, by acting in the way I shall now summarize.