Human Duty in the Bhagavad Gita
16 Dec 2022 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
The Bhagavad Gita is sacred literature that explains all the facets of life and life beyond life, as well as every dimension of the world and life beyond the world. Globally renowned as the jewel of India’s spiritual wisdom, Bhagawat Geeta is Spoken by Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead to His intimate disciple Arjuna during the great war of Mahabharat, Bhagavad Gita’s seven hundred concise verses provide a definitive guide to the science of self-realization. No other philosophical or religious work reveals, in such a lucid and profound way, the nature of consciousness, the self, the universe, and the Supreme.
As the Bhagavad Gita gives practical explanations of duties.
Let’s look over the different kinds of responsibilities or duties that are assigned to people based on their nature and inherent qualities. Nowadays, philosophers, psychologists, role models, sages, theologians, etc. advise people to act in accordance with their intrinsic talents. This topic was covered 5000 years ago in the Bhagawat Geeta.
Chapter 2, verse 47 mentions- You have only the right to work, not the fruits of your effort. Do not regard yourself as the cause of the fruit of action, nor should you be attached to inaction.
It continues in verse 48– Perform your responsibilities or duties while letting go of attachment and remaining even-minded in success and failure; this is what yoga is all about. Thus human duties in the Geeta are well elaborated in various ways. One should never escape from one’s duty.
Chapter 3, verse 35 says-It is preferable to carry out one’s natural tendency followed by obligation, even if it lacks merit than to properly carry out another person’s specified work. In particular, it is better to perish while carrying out one’s duty than to advance down another’s route because the latter is ripe with danger for oneself. It suggests that staying alive by executing others’ duties, which are unnatural and unsuited for oneself, is far more lovely than dying while faithfully carrying out one’s natural job. Unnatural work only lowers one’s standard. The only work that advances human development and consciousness is a natural activity. It is improper to encourage greed in others’ duties that appear to be superior.
In chapter 18, verse number 40; it is given that there is no being on Earth or in another planetary system without at least some modes of the material world. Even demigods, gods, or other types of creatures from the higher world have some unique characteristics for the physical world. People use these modes to conduct a variety of actions, which is why the Bhagawat Geeta has to clarify obligations
Succeeding verse number 41 says that the task they do or their innate characteristics or ways of nature set each caste apart (Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, or Sudra). As a result, caste is decided by innate natural qualities rather than by birth.
Verse forty-two says that some people possess qualities like serenity, suzerainty of the mind and senses, self-control, austerity—facing all challenges to fulfill sacred obligations—forgiveness, fairness, internal and external sanctity, clarity of mind, sense, and behavior, faith in the veracity of the scriptures, god, life after death, etc. These qualities are considered to be Brahman qualities, as is the study and teaching of the Vedas and the scriptures, as well as wisdom, knowledge, and realization of truth. So they do their duty according to their innate nature.
Succeeding verse forty-three ( Verse 43 ) number states that the natural traits of the Kshatriya include bravery, heroism, splendor, power, leadership, resolve, diligence, and daring in war, as well as administration and charity. Thus people should perform their duties as per their natural traits.
Verse 44 mentions that the nature of work for Vaisyas is in agriculture, cattle rearing, trade, and business; the nature of work for Sudras is in labor and services to others. So, human duty in the Geeta is explained that there are various types and traits of people. Each of them should perform their duty according to their types and traits.
Thus, while explaining human duties in the Bhagavad Gita, it is clarified that each type of work is its own significance. Each type of duty is unique. There cannot be a comparison among works. No work is greater and no work is smaller. The works or responsibilities are distributed not by birth but rather by the qualities people possess. All tasks are equally significant. It makes no mention of being untouchable. These myths were developed by humans themselves. In reality, following the parents is not the best way to identify caste. Caste is the result of an individual’s traits, personality, and customs. There isn’t a greater caste or a lower caste, then. Each caste has equal significance.
Verse 45– By performing one’s natural duty with dedication and sincerity, one can achieve accomplishment. Thus, to attain supreme perfection one should not escape from the duty according to his nature. There is the teaching – how to execute the duty.
Verse 46– The lord which is the origin of everything and every being, by whom the universe is pervaded, should be worshipped with the performance of the duty. Every single work, duty, or activity one performs should be treated as a worship of God, prayer, or work for God. When one does this naturally the process and result of deeds are offered to the lord.
Verse 47– Even if our own natural obligation lacks good quality, it is preferable to agree to it over the well-done duty of another because when a person fulfills a responsibility that is required by their inherent nature, they are not subject to sin. Thus, the Geeta teaches us to perform our duty without any judgment.
Verse 48– Every endeavor or work is hampered by some evil, just as smoke obscures fire, so one should not abandon one’s basic duty even when it is filled with evil. No work is flawless, so it is unreasonable to forego your own obligations and perform another person’s duties that are out of nature for you.
Verse 49– One should maintain self-control, be detached from everything, and should not give too much importance to material possessions and pleasures since doing so leads to the culmination of inaction. This stage of renunciation is also known as the utmost perfectional stage. It is the level of action- and reaction-freedom.
Conclusion on Human Duty According to Bhagavad Gita
“Human Duty in the Geeta” is a clear-cut view to perform duties efficiently. Humans are born with various characteristics. Each quality is equally important in completing and perfecting the world. People with various characteristics are required in various sectors of the world. There are no people who do not possess at least one type of aptitude. At least one skill or ability is provided by nature. Casteism is determined by innate ability. It is a person’s mental ability. As a result, it is not necessary for parents and children to be of the same caste. It also happens that people belong to more than one caste because of more than a skill and characteristic of a person. Perhaps a person can belong to three castes at the same time; perhaps the ratio of those castes varies. Whichever quality a person possesses at the highest level, that type of quality must be demonstrated. As a result, there is no role in determining race or caste based on skin color or parental heredity. People are advised to perform their duties in accordance with their natural abilities, and their caste system is evaluated as a result.
The man attained supreme knowledge by carrying out his own duty sincerely, without greed or attachment, and by offering everything (process to result) to the Lord. He reveals the truth through regular worship of the Lord as one’s natural duty. Worshiping the Lord through natural duty entails serving all people through duty with the intention of benefiting all. When more and more people benefit from his duty, he discovers the path of happiness, blissfulness, and truth. Thus, “Human duty in the Geeta” teaches a person how to act both in and out of the physical world.