BG 18.45
One attains perfection by diligently attending to their duty. I will now tell you how one attains success through devotion to their actions.
स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु
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sve sve — respectively
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karmaṇy — work
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abhirataḥ — fulfilling
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sansiddhiṁ — perfection
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labhate — achieve
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naraḥ — a person
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sva-karma-nirataḥ — engagement in one's prescribed duties
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sva
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karma
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nirataḥ — engaged
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siddhiṁ — perfection
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yathā — as
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vindati — attains
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tach — that
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chhṛiṇu — hear
śhṛiṇu
One attains perfection by diligently attending to their duty. I will now tell you how one attains success through devotion to their actions. One reaches perfection by dedicating their actions to the creator of all beings who pervades all things. It is better to do one's own duty, however defective it may be, than to follow the duty of another, however well one may perform it. One who does the duty ordained by their own nature incurs no sin. One should not abandon their duty, even if it appears to be defective. All endeavors are enveloped by imperfection, just as fire is obscured by smoke. One whose mind is entirely detached, who has conquered the self and is free from desire, attains through renunciation the supreme perfection and freedom from action.
Similar verses
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Therefore, without attachment, perform the work that is your duty, for one who does their duty without attachment attains perfection.
- Verse 3.19
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One reaches perfection by dedicating their actions to the creator of all beings who pervades all things.
- Verse 18.46
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If you are incapable of steady practice, then devote yourself to my service and perform all action for my sake - this is also a path to success.
- Verse 12.10
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King Janaka and others reached perfection through action alone. Even for the sake of enlightening the world, you must act.
- Verse 3.20
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Be steadfast in performing your duties, abandoning all attachment to success and failure - such equanimity is called Yoga.
- Verse 2.48