Mantra.Tips
bhagavad-gitagitakrishnakarma-yoga

Bhagavad Gita 18.46 — Yatah Pravrittir Bhutanam

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता १८.४६ — यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानाम्

🕉️ hindu·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Morning before beginning work, or at the start of any task or profession·📜 Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 46

Also known as: yatah pravrittir bhutanam · yatah pravrittir bhutanam yena sarvam idam tatam · sva karmana tam abhyarchya siddhim vindati manavah · bhagavad gita 18.46 · gita 18 46 · work as worship gita verse

Share:

Meaning

This luminous verse from the final chapter reveals the deepest secret of work: any honest duty, performed as worship of the all-pervading Lord, becomes a direct path to perfection. The same God from whom all beings arise and who pervades the entire universe is worshipped not only through ritual but through one's own work done in the right spirit. It dignifies every occupation as a means of reaching the Divine.

Origin & Story

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 46 · Sage Veda Vyasa (Mahabharata, Bhishma Parva) · Ancient (text compiled c. 5th–2nd century BCE)

In the eighteenth and final chapter, Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, Krishna summarizes the whole teaching of the Gita. Having described duties according to one's nature, he reveals this profound truth: the Lord who is the source of all beings and pervades the universe is worshipped through one's own work, and by such worship a person attains perfection.

As told in scripture

Saints from every walk of life — weavers, cobblers, farmers and merchants among them — are remembered for attaining God-realization simply by doing their humble work as worship, exactly as this verse promises, proving that no honest duty is too small a path to the Divine.

The Mantra

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्। स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः॥

yataḥ pravṛittir bhūtānāṁ yena sarvam idaṁ tatam sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarchya siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ

Meaning:He from whom all beings have come forth and by whom all this universe is pervaded — by worshipping Him through the performance of one's own duty, a person attains perfection.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

यतः🔊yataḥfrom whom
प्रवृत्तिः🔊pravṛittiḥthe origin, coming-into-being, activity
भूतानाम्🔊bhūtānāmof all living beings
येन🔊yenaby whom
सर्वम्🔊sarvamall
इदम्🔊idamthis (universe)
ततम्🔊tatamis pervaded
स्वकर्मणा🔊sva-karmaṇāby one's own prescribed duty / natural work
तम्🔊tamHim
अभ्यर्च्य🔊abhyarchyaby worshipping, by offering worship
सिद्धिम्🔊siddhimperfection, success, fulfillment
विन्दति🔊vindatiattains, finds
मानवः🔊mānavaḥa human being, a person

Benefits of Chanting Bhagavad Gita 18.46 — Yatah Pravrittir Bhutanam

Reveals that any honest work, done as worship, leads to spiritual perfection

Sanctifies every profession and duty as a path to God

Removes the divide between worldly work and worship

Brings dignity, meaning and devotion to daily labour

Teaches that the all-pervading Lord can be served through one's own dharma

Combines karma-yoga, devotion and self-fulfilment in a single practice

How to Chant Bhagavad Gita 18.46 — Yatah Pravrittir Bhutanam

Repetitions11times
Best TimeMorning before beginning work, or at the start of any task or profession

Recite this verse before you begin your work each day, consciously offering your duty as worship to the Lord who pervades all. Let it transform routine tasks into acts of devotion, performed for His sake rather than mere personal gain. It is especially encouraging for anyone who feels their work is ordinary — reminding them that sincere duty itself, offered to God, becomes a means of attaining perfection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Krishna teaches that by performing one's own duty as worship of the all-pervading Lord — from whom all beings arise and by whom the universe is pervaded — a person attains perfection. Honest work, offered to God, is itself a spiritual path.
By doing your prescribed duty sincerely, skillfully and selflessly, and dedicating it to God rather than to ego or greed. The inner attitude of offering, not the outer type of work, is what turns labour into worship (abhyarchya).
Ritual worship has its place, but this verse expands worship to include one's daily duty. The Lord who pervades everything can be adored through right action itself, so even those immersed in worldly responsibilities have a complete path to perfection.
It builds on the Gita's teaching that it is better to do one's own duty (swadharma) imperfectly than another's well. Here Krishna adds that this very swadharma, offered as worship to God, leads directly to the highest perfection.

You May Also Like

Found this helpful? Share it with loved ones 🙏

Share:

Explore more sacred mantras with complete meaning and chanting guides