MONDAY MUSINGS SEASON 2 - EPISODE 369

8th June 2026

Love your work

It is better to do svadharma, even though imperfectly, than to do another’s dharma done perfectly. A person does not incur sin by performing work as per their innate nature (Bhagavad Gita 18.47)

Many perceive this sloka as a vindication of varnashrama dharma, i.e division of work based on caste, but it is not.  Three words are important in this sloka to understand the correct meaning and they are sva, svabhav and kilbisham.

Sva means self or own, Svadharma should refer to ‘responsibilities of self’ and not responsibilities inherited by birth. Svabhava means one’s nature or character and kilbisham has multiple meanings - sin, fault, guilt, etc.

Let us analyse the second line of the sloka first to get the right context. The second line of the sloka states ‘One does not feel guilty by performing work as per his/her character’.

When the second line of the sloka talks about work aligned to one’s nature, the first line cannot refer to a completely different topic, i.e., ‘caste-based work’. Lord Krishna thus conveys that ‘find your work aligned to your nature, i.e., find the work, which is of interest to you, or simply ‘love your job’.

When we perform our sva-dharma, duties as per our nature and abilities, essentially work in which we have passion, there is a two-fold advantage. It is in tune with our disposition. Hence, it is as natural to our personality as flying is to a bird and swimming is to a fish. Secondly, since it is comfortable to the mind, it can almost be done involuntarily, and the consciousness becomes free to be engaged in devotion.

Instead, if we take up a job we don’t love, for reasons such as money, fame, family pressure, etc., we struggle against the innate inclination of our personality. Essentially, take up work you are passionate about.

No work is mean work. Dedication does not come from the power and the monetary considerations, but from the nature of the work and your abilities to do that work.

“If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

That is why Lord Krishna advocated the benefits of taking up a job you like in the previous sloka.

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरत: संसिद्धिं लभते नर: | स्वकर्मनिरत: सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु || Bhagavad Gita 18.45

By performing work as per individual’s nature, human beings can attain perfection. Hear from me and I will explain..

This verse teaches that by sincerely dedicating oneself to one’s own prescribed duty—actions aligned with one’s innate nature, abilities and interests—a person can attain perfection. The Gita emphasizes that perfection cannot be attained by imitating another’s path, but by embracing the work naturally suited to one’s temperament and circumstances.

Anyone who understands their commitments and discharges duties expected from them with commitment can be said to be performing ‘sva-karma’.  Sva-dharma can include commitments to the organisation, society, and family, and not forgetting commitment to self-development. ‘Man is a social animal’, and everyone needs to understand their multidimensional commitments and needs to engage actively in fulfilling their commitments.

Svakarma can also mean work as per your qualities and abilities. Svakarma is work in which you have competence and interest, work that is essentially your #ikigai.

I love Kahlil Gibran’s, a Lebanese-American philosophical writer, thought-provoking poems.

“Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

I can hear questions "that is fine. how to find the love (work)". Steve Jobs has the answer. Keep looking for and you will find it.

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." Steve Jobs in his iconic 2005 Stanford University commencement address:

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#PositiveNewsPage

Adapted from newindianexpress.com

For many students in government schools, travelling by flight remains a distant dream. At Begumpet Government High School in Ramagiri Mandal, one teacher decided to turn that dream into motivation for academic success.

Malka Ramakishan Rao, a mathematics teacher at the school, announced during the Republic Day celebrations earlier this year that any student scoring above 550 marks in the SSC examinations would be rewarded with a flight. He has now fulfilled his promise with his own funds.

Srimanthula Poornachandar, who secured 554 marks out of 600 in the SSC examinations, became the first student to receive the reward. Ramakishan Rao personally sponsored the trip and took the student on a flight from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam.

The journey was not limited to air travel alone. The teacher also introduced the student to several tourist attractions in the coastal city, making the experience memorable beyond academics.

“My initiative was aimed at inspiring students to strive for academic success and building confidence among children studying in government schools,” says Ramakishan Rao. He adds that the programme will continue every year for students who secure 550 marks or above in the SSC examinations.

For Poornachandar, the promise itself became a source of encouragement. “Sir’s promise of a flight journey motivated me a lot. I was very excited while travelling by flight. The encouragement from teachers and the special classes conducted in the school helped me achieve my goal and score the marks I expected,” he says.

Now, for students, the initiative has become more than just a reward programme — it is a reminder that hard work and academic achievement can open doors to experiences they once only imagined.

Why would a government school teacher use his funds for a student? That shows his love for the job,

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Conceived, compiled and posted as a weekly newsletter #MondayMusings by Jaganathan T (www.authorjaganathan,com).

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