sve sve karmaṇy abhirataḥ
saḿsiddhiḿ labhate naraḥ
sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiḿ
yathā vindati tac chṛṇu
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 18.45
By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Srila Prabhupada.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
No commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
18.45 When one is devoted to his own duty in a way mentioned earlier, he attains perfection i.e., the supreme state. When a person is devoted to his duty, how he attains perfection, i.e., attains the supreme state, listen.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
How the acquisition of knowledge is achieved is being stated by Lord Krishna. Fully engaged in duty by devotion to performing the prescribed Vedic activities according to what is ordained by one’s particular class in society according to qualification one obtains fitness for advancing in knowledge. The following verse will delineate by what method a sincere aspirant engaged daily in executing their prescribed duties gains knowledge of the ultimate truth.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
One who performs the natural prescribed duties as ordained by the Vedic scriptures according to qualification accomplihes the four goals of human existence which are: kama or enjoyment, artha or wealth, dharma or ighteousness and moksa or liberation from material existence. By devotion and wholehearted commitment to performing one’s natural duty the highest perfection is achieved in the form of self-realisation. It may be submitted that so many perform their duties perfectly and yet still do not achieve the highest perfection, this is seen to be true. But the reason for not achieving self-realisation is that they have not yet developed devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna wholeheartedly. That is why success eluded them. So this is how the natural duties of a human should be conducted.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
18.45 Sve sve karmani abhiratah, being devoted to his own duty, which has different characteristics as stated above; narah, man, the person qualified therefor; labhate, attains; samsiddhim, complete success, characterized as the ability for steadfastness in Knowledge, which follows from the elimination of the impurities of body and mind as a result of fulfilling his own duty. Does the complete success follow merely from the fulfilment of one’s own duty? No. How then? Srnu, hear; tat, that; yatha, as to how, through what means; sva-karma-niratah, one devoted to his own duty; vindati, acheives; siddim, success.
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
18.41-60 Brahmana – etc. upto avasopitat. Surely the intrinsic nature of the Brahmanas etc., does not voilate what has been difined (above) by way of classifying their duties. Therefore, as far as you are concerned, you have the intrinsic quality of the Ksatriya (warrior), and your nature i.e., intrinsic quality, does, without fail, assume the part of the inciter of yourself, even though you don’t like it. For, a person who acts simply being incited by that (natural condition), there is the strong bondage of the merit or demerit. Therefore, perform actions following the means of correct knowledge, taught by Me. In that case, the bondage would disappear. The intention of the principal sentence (statement of the entire passage under study) is to help to get this idea. The meaning of the subordinate sentences (statements) is evident. Briefly (verse 50) : in short. Knowledge : i.e. the one which has been explained earlier. Nistha conveys, avoiding verbal jugglary, the meaning ‘what has been determined’. He who is endowed with intellect totally pure etc. : All this has been almost explained already. Hence, no more trouble is taken [to comment upon it].
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
sve sve karmany abhiratah
samsiddhim labhate narah
sva-karma-niratah siddhim
yatha vindati tac chrnu
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
sve sve — each his own; karmaṇi — work; abhirataḥ — following; saḿsiddhim — perfection; labhate — achieves; naraḥ — a man; sva-karma — in his own duty; nirataḥ — engaged; siddhim — perfection; yathā — as; vindati — attains; tat — that; śṛṇu — listen
