Selected verses from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam that support an ideal work culture, presented with Sanskrit, transliteration, and translation, along with insights into their relevance:
1. Perform Your Own Duty
Sanskrit:
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥
Transliteration:
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt
svadharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
Source: Bhāgavatam 3.28.2 (and echoed from Bhagavad Gītā 3.35)
Translation:
“It is better to do one's own duty imperfectly than to perform another's duty perfectly. Death in the course of performing one's own duty is better; engaging in another’s duty is dangerous.”
Work Insight: Stay true to your role and strengths; authentic contribution matters more than imitation.
2. Work as Worship
Sanskrit:
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर॥
Transliteration:
yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara
Source: Bhāgavatam 1.2.13 (philosophy of action consistent with Gītā 3.9)
Translation:
“All work done as an offering to the Supreme (as a sacrifice) liberates one; work done selfishly binds one to material existence.”
Work Insight: Approach your duties with a spirit of service and contribution rather than attachment to results.
3. Pursue Higher Goals
Sanskrit:
तस्यैव हेतोः प्रयतेत कोविदो
न लभ्यते यद् भ्रमतामुपर्यधः।
Transliteration:
tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ
Source: Bhāgavatam 1.5.18
Translation:
“A wise person should strive only for that which is not obtained even by wandering from the highest to the lowest realms—that is, spiritual realization.”
Work Insight: Do not get lost in the race for status or wealth; prioritize meaningful, value-driven work.
4. Virtuous Conduct
Sanskrit:
सत्यं शौचं दया क्षान्तिरार्यवं दम आर्जवम्।
शमो दम्भश्च ह्रीस्तीर्थं ब्रह्म यत्र गृहेष्वपि॥
Transliteration:
satyaṁ śaucaṁ dayā kṣāntir āryavaṁ dama ārjavam
śamo dambhaś ca hrīs tīrthaṁ brahma yatra gṛheṣv api
Source: Bhāgavatam 11.17.16
“Truthfulness, cleanliness, compassion, tolerance, respectability, self-control, simplicity, and humility—these are signs of a home (or workplace) where God is present.”
Work Insight: These are timeless ethical principles essential to a respectful and harmonious workplace culture.
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