Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 44 (BG 18.44) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

Each human being possesses the qualities of nature in a particular proportion, and therefore each person has their own distinctive nature. For this reason, the specific work that one person can perform with skill, another person cannot perform with equal proficiency. It is not possible for a warrior of passionate nature to practice meditation as a sage of pure nature does. Similarly, merchants and laborers cannot perform the courageous deeds of warriors. In social life, not all people can receive equal opportunity to reach the highest positions of honor. Yet a social order can provide equal opportunity for all people to develop according to their own nature. To make this principle or system successful, different duties have been prescribed for people of different temperaments and stations in life. A person of merchant nature can free themselves from their faults through earnest and inspired work in agriculture, cattle-rearing, and commerce. Freedom from faults means the diminishment of desires. They have a natural inclination toward commercial pursuits. Similarly, serving all with the spirit of dedication is the natural duty of the laborer. Each person's station and duty can be determined according to their inner nature. When a person is assigned work contrary to their nature, they not only create disorder in that field of work, but also harm themselves. For example, if a warrior were asked to fan someone with devotion, they might humbly accept it, but immediately thereafter, following their nature, they would command someone else to bring the fan. Similarly, if a merchant were made a temple priest, that sacred place would soon become lower than a commercial center, and if royal power were entrusted to them, they would be compelled by their nature to begin conducting profitable trade through that authority—what the people call corruption. We should all determine our own station and duty through self-examination. No person of higher station has the right to look with disrespect upon those of lower stations. Each person serves society according to their capacity. While serving society with the spirit of dedication to the Divine, every person should remain engaged in the pursuit of self-development and the attainment of perfection. On this very subject, Lord Sri Krishna speaks: