Bhagavadgita -Radhakrishnan 246

The Bhagavadgita -S. Radhakrishnan

CHAPTER 18 Conclusion 43. sauryam tejo dhrtir daksyam yuddhe ca ' py apalayanam danam isvarabhavas ca ksatram karma svabhavajam (43) Heroism, vigour, steadiness, resourcefulness, not fleeing even in a battle, generosity and leadership, these are the duties of a Ksatriya born of his nature. Though the Ksatriyas cannot claim to be spiritual leaders, they have the qualities which enable them to adapt spiritual truths to the requirements of action 44. krsigauraksyavanijyam vaisyakarma svabhavajam paricaryatmakath karma sudrasya 'pi svabhavajam (44) Agriculture, tending cattle and trade are the duties of a Vaisya born of his nature; work of the character of service is the duty of a Sudra born of his nature. It ,is not a question of identical opportunities for all men to rise to the highest station in social life, for men differ in their powers, but a question of giving equal opportunities for all so that they may bring their respective gifts to fruition. Each one should have the opportunity of achieving his human fullness, the fruits of wisdom and virtue, according to his effort and condition It makes little difference whether we dig the earth or co business or govern a state or meditate in a cell. The varna rules recognize that different men contribute to the general good In different ways, by supplying directly urgent wants of which all are conscious and by being in their lives and work witnesses to truth and beauty. Society is a functional organization and all functions which are essential for the health of society are to be regarded as socially equal Individuals of varying capacities are bound together in a living organic social system. Democracy is not an attempt at uniformity which is impossible but at an integrated variety All men are not equal in their capacities but all men are equally necessary for society, and theii contributions from their different stations are of equal value. 45. sve-sve karmany abhiratah sarhsiddhirim labhate narah svakarm aniratah siddhiin yatha vindati tac chrnu (45) Devoted each to his own duty man attains perfection How one, devoted to one's own duty, attains perfection, that do thou hear. svesve karmany abhiratah devoted each to his own duty. Each of us should be loyal at our level to our feelings and impulses; it is dangerous to attempt work beyond the level of our nature, our svabhava. Within the power of our nature, we must live up fully to our duty 46. yatah pravrttir bhutanam yena sarvam idam tatam svakarmand tam abhyarcya siddhim vindati manavah (46) He from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded—by worshipping Him through the performance of his own duty does man attain perfection. Work is worship of the Supreme, man's homage to God. The Gita holds that quality and capacity are the basis of functional divisions. Accepting the theory of rebirth, it holds that a man's inborn nature is determined by his own past lives. All forms of perfection do not lie in the same direction. Each one aims at something beyond himself, at self-transcendence, whether he strives after personal perfection, or lives for art or works for one's fellows. See also XVIII, 48 and 6o.