Work culture.

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.