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Chapter 18
yatah pravrttirbhatanam yena sarvamidam tatam
svakarmana tamabhyarcya siddhim vindati msnavah
He from Whom all beings emanate and by Whom all this is pervaded—by worshipping Him, through the performance of one's own duty, man attains perfection. 46
Comment:-
Yatah pravrttirbhatanam yena sarvamidam tatam:- The Lord, from Whom the entire universe emanates, Who conducts it, Who is the creator, base and illuminator of all beings, and objects, Who pervades all, Who existed, before the creation of infinite universes, and will exist, when all the nniverses perish and Who pervades infinite universes, should be worshipped, through the performance of one's own duty, according to one's Varna (Caste).
Svakarmana tamabhyareya:- According to Manusmrti (code of Manu), the six duties of a 'Brahmana, are - study, teaching, performance of religious sacrifice, performing it, for others as a priest, accepting charity and offering charity. Out of these, teaching, performing religious sacrifice for others as a priest, and accepting charity—these three are the means of his living, while study, performance of religious sacrifice and offering charity, are his duties. Through these six duties, as well as through the nine duties mentioned in the verse forty-two of this chapter, and also through other activities such as eating, drinking, going, sleeping etc., he should worship, the Lord Who pervades all beings. It means, that he should serve all beings, regarding them as the manifestation of the Lord, to please Him, without expecting any reward.
Similarly, protection of subjects, offering charity, performance of religious sacrifice, study and detachment from sensual pleasures—these five, are the duties of a Ksatriya, mentioned in the code of Manu. A Ksatriya, through these five duties, and seven duties, mentioned in the forty-third verse of this chapter, as well as through the activities of daily routine, such as eating, drinking etc., should worship the Lord, Who has manifested himself, as beings.
A Vaisya, through religious sacrifice, study, offering charity, charging interest, agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade, and all other activities, should worship the all-pervading Lord. Similarly, a Sudra through service and all other activities, should worship the all-pervading Lord, without expecting any reward.
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