Shloka 43
अन्त: करणका निग्रह करना, इन्द्रियोंका दमन करना, धर्मपालनके लिये कष्ट सहना, बाहर-भीतरसे शुद्ध रहना, दूसरोंके अपराधोंको क्षमा करना, मन, इन्द्रिय और शरीरको सरल रखना, वेद, शास्त्र, ईश्वर और परलोक आदिमें श्रद्धा रखना, वेद-शास्त्रोंका अध्ययन- अध्यापन करना और परमात्माके तत्त्वका अनुभव करना--ये सब-के-सब ही ब्राह्मणके स्वाभाविक कर्म हैं।? |। शौर्य तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्पपलायनम् । दानमी श्वरभावद्ष क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम्,शूरवीरता5, तेज, धैर्य/3$, चतुरता*४ और युद्धमें न भागना5, दान देना और स्वामिभावः--ये सब-के-सब ही क्षत्रियके स्वाभाविक कर्म हैं:
antaḥkaraṇasya nigrahaḥ, indriyāṇāṃ damaḥ, dharmapālanārthaṃ duḥkha-sahiṣṇutā, bahiḥ-antar-śaucaṃ, aparādhakṣamā, mana-indriya-śarīrāṇāṃ ārjavam, veda-śāstra-īśvara-paraloka-ādiṣu śraddhā, veda-śāstrādhyayana-adhyāpanaṃ, paramātma-tattvānubhavaś ca—etāni sarvāṇi brāhmaṇasya svabhāvajāni karmāṇi. śauryaṃ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṃ yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam, dānaṃ īśvarabhāvaś ca—kṣātraṃ karma svabhāvajam.
Arjuna asks about the natural duties that arise from one’s disposition. He describes the Brahmin’s innate work as inner self-restraint, control of the senses, endurance of hardship for the sake of dharma, purity within and without, forgiveness of others’ faults, straightforwardness of mind, senses, and body, faith in the Veda and śāstra, in God and the hereafter, the study and teaching of sacred learning, and direct realization of the Supreme Reality. He then states that the Kshatriya’s innate work is valor, radiance and vigor, steadfastness, skill, not fleeing from battle, generosity, and a lordly sense of responsibility befitting a protector.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines svabhāva-jāni karmāṇi—duties that naturally arise from one’s disposition—contrasting the Brahmin’s orientation toward restraint, purity, learning, and realization with the Kshatriya’s orientation toward courage, steadfast protection in battle, skill, generosity, and responsible authority.
In the Bhishma Parva’s dharma-discussion context, Arjuna is asking about the defining qualities and natural works associated with social roles (especially Brahmin and Kshatriya), framing ethical conduct and battlefield responsibility as expressions of inner nature rather than mere external labels.