Heroism, power, determination, ingenuity, courage in battle, generosity, and the art of governing—these are the qualities that accompany the actions of the ksatriya [the warrior and administrator].

The ability to cultivate land, tend livestock, and trade are all related to the actions of the vaisya [the trader and farmer]. As for the sudra [the worker], it is in his nature to serve others through his work.

Through his actions and his own nature, each person can achieve perfection.

By following his own nature in his actions, each person can achieve perfection. How to accomplish this, listen to me tell you now.

By worshipping the Lord, the Omnipresent, the origin of all beings, a person can, in the fulfillment of his own duty, achieve perfection.

It is better to fulfill one's own duty, even imperfectly, than to assume that of another, even to fulfill it perfectly. By fulfilling the prescribed duties assigned to each person by his own nature, one never incurs sin.

As fire is covered by smoke, every undertaking is veiled by some fault. Therefore, no one should abandon the act proper to his own nature, even if it is tainted with stains. Man can enjoy the fruits of renunciation simply by self-control, detachment from worldly things, and disinterest in material pleasures. This, in fact, is the highest perfection of renunciation.

This is how to attain supreme perfection, the spiritual level.

Briefly, learn from me how, if one acts in the way I am about to explain to you, one can attain supreme perfection, the level of Brahman [spiritual being].

Completely purified by intelligence, resolutely controlling the mind, renouncing objects of sense pleasure, free from attachment and aversion, the person who lives in a secluded place, who eats little and controls the body and tongue, who always remains in contemplation, detached, without false ego, without vain power or vain glory, without lust or anger, who closes himself to material things, free from all sense of possession, serene, this person is elevated to the level of spiritual realization.

He who attains the spiritual level realizes the Supreme Brahman [the Supreme Being], and finds infinite joy therein. He never grieves, never yearns for anything, he shows himself equal to all beings. He then obtains the right to serve Me with pure love and devotion.

Through devotional service, and only thus, can one know Me as I am. And the being who, through such devotion, becomes fully aware of My Person, then enters My absolute Kingdom.

Though engaged in activities of all kinds, my devotee, under My protection, attains, by My grace, the eternal and imperishable abode.