Verse 18.13-14 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms pañca - five, etāni - all these, mahā-bāho - O mighty-armed one, kāraṇāni - causes, nibodha - just understand, me - from Me, sāṅkhye - in the Vedic literature, kṛtānte - in the conclusion, proktāni - stated, siddhaye - for the accomplishment, sarva - all, karmaṇām - of activities, adhiṣṭhānam - the place of action, tathā - as also, kartā - the doer, karaṇam - the senses, ca - and, pṛthag-vidham - of different kinds, vividhāḥ - various, ca - and, pṛthak - separate, ceṣṭāḥ - endeavors, daivam - the Supersoul, ca - also, eva - certainly, atra - in this, pañcamam - the fifth Translation O mighty-armed Arjuna, according to the Vedic injunctions there are five causes for the accomplishment of all action. Now learn of these from Me. The place of action [the body], the performer, the various senses, the many different kinds of endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul—these are the five causes of action. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.40 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms na - not, tat - that, asti - there is, pṛthivyām - on the earth, vā - or, divi - in the higher planetary systems, deveṣu - amongst the demigods, vā - or, punaḥ - again, sattvam - existence, prakṛti-jaiḥ - born of material nature, muktam - liberated, yat - which, ebhiḥ - by this, syāt - is, tribhiḥ - by the three, guṇaiḥ - modes of material nature Translation There is no being existing, either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, which is freed from these three modes born of material nature. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.41 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms brāhmaṇa - of the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriya - the kṣatriyas, viśām - and the vaiśyas, śūdrāṇām - of the śūdras, ca - and, param-tapa - O chastiser of the enemies, karmāṇi - the activities, pravibhaktāni - are divided, svabhāva - their own nature, prabhavaiḥ - born of, guṇaiḥ - by the modes of material nature Translation Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras are distinguished by the qualities born of their own natures in accordance with the material modes, O chastiser of the enemy. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.42 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms śamaḥ - peacefulness, damaḥ - self-control, tapaḥ - austerity, śaucam - purity, kṣāntiḥ - tolerance, ārjavam - honesty, eva - certainly, ca - and, jñānam - knowledge, vijñānam - wisdom, āstikyam - religiousness, brahma - of a brāhmaṇa, karma - activity, svabhāva-jam - born of his own nature Translation Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness—these are the natural qualities by which the brāhmaṇas work. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.43 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms śauryam - heroism, tejaḥ - power, dhṛtiḥ - determination, dākṣyam - resourcefulness, yuddhe - in battle, ca - and, api - also, apalāyanam - not fleeing, dānam - generosity, īśvara - of leadership, bhāvaḥ - the nature, ca - and, kṣātram - of a kṣatriya, karma - duty, svabhāva-jam - born of his own nature Translation Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kṣatriyas. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.44 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms kṛṣi - farming, gau-rakṣya - cow protection, vāṇijyam - commerce, vaiśya - of the vaiśyas, karma - activity, svabhāva-jam - born of his own nature, paricaryā - service, ātmakam - natural, karma - work, śūdrasya - of the śūdras, api - also, svabhāva-jam - born of his own nature Translation Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaiśyas, and for the śūdras there are labor and service to others. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.47 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms śreyān - better, sva-dharmaḥ - one’s own occupation, viguṇaḥ - imperfectly performed, para-dharmāt - than another’s occupation, sv-anuṣṭhitāt - perfectly done, svabhāva-niyatam - prescribed according to one’s nature, karma - work, kurvan - performing, na - never, āpnoti - achieves, kilbiṣam - sinful reactions 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. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.48 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms saha-jam - born simultaneously, karma - work, kaunteya - O son of Kuntī, sa-doṣam - with fault, api - although, na - never, tyajet - one should give up, sarva-ārambhāḥ - all attempts, hi - certainly, doṣeṇa - with fault, dhūmena - by smoke, agniḥ - fire, iva - as, āvṛtāḥ - covered 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 Kuntī, even if such work is full of fault. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.54 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms brahma-bhūtaḥ - being one with the Absolute, prasanna-ātmā - fully joyful, na - never, śocati - laments, na - never, kāṅkṣati - desires, samaḥ - equally disposed, sarveṣu - to all, bhūteṣu - living entities, mad-bhaktim - devotional service unto Me, labhate - gains, parām - transcendental Translation One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.55 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms bhaktyā - by devotional service, mām - Me, abhijānāti - one can know, yāvān - as much as, yaḥ - who, ca - also, asmi - I am, tattvataḥ - in truth, tataḥ - thereafter, mām - Me, tattvato - in truth, jñātvā - knowing, viśate - he enters, tat - into that, anantaram - thereafter Translation One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)

Verse 18.58 Details

Word-for-Word Synonyms mat-cittaḥ - conscious of Me, sarva - all, durgāṇi - impediments, mat-prasādāt - by My mercy, tariṣyasi - you will overcome, atha - if, cet - if, tvam - you, ahaṅkārāt - from false ego, na - not, śroṣyasi - do hear, vinaṅkṣyasi - you will be lost Translation If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost. Purport Excerpt (Purport text will go here)