Moksha-samnyasa Yoga

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41. Of Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, as also of Sudras, O Parantapa, the

duties are divided according to the qualities born of nature.

 

42. Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness and also

uprightness, knowledge, wisdom, faith - these are the duties of the Brahmanas,

born of nature.

 

43. Bravery, boldness, fortitude, promptness, not flying from battle, generosity

and lordliness are the duties of the Kshatriyas, born of nature.

 

44. Ploughing, cattle-rearing and trade are the duties of the Vaisyas, born of

nature. And of the nature of service is the duty of the Sudra, born of nature.

 

45. Devoted each to his own duty, man attains perfection; how one, devoted to

one's own duty, attains success, that do thou hear.

 

46. Him from whom is the evolution of (all) beings, by whom all this is pervaded

- by worshipping Him with his proper duty, man attains perfection.

 

47. Better is one's own duty (though) destitute of merits, than the duty of

another well performed. Doing the duty ordained according to nature one incurs

no sin.

 

48. The duty born with oneself, O son of Kunti, though faulty, one ought not to

abandon; for, all undertakings are surrounded with evil, as fire with smoke.

 

49. He whose reason is not attached anywhere, whose self is subdued, from whom

desire has fled, he by renunciation attains the supreme state of freedom from

action.

 

50. How he who has attained perfection reaches Brahman, that in brief do thou

learn from Me, O son of Kunti - that supreme consummation of knowledge.

 

to be continued...