Krishna (Bhagavad Gita)

Every person has a unique dharma — a sacred duty determined by their nature, position, and life stage — and fulfilling it IS the purpose of life.

Better is one's own dharma, even imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed.

“It is better to do one's own dharma, even though imperfectly, than to do another's dharma, even though perfectly.”

Fulfill your duty with excellence and devotion, without attachment to outcomes — the action itself is the reward.

You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work — perform action as worship, not commerce.

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”

Purpose is not fixed — it naturally transforms across life's stages, from youthful ambition through midlife deepening to elder wisdom.

The four stages of life (ashramas) each have their own dharma — trying to live the purpose of one stage in another creates suffering.

“Better is one's own dharma, even imperfect, than the dharma of another.”

Purpose is the progressive stilling of mental agitation (chitta vritti nirodha) through the eight limbs of yoga, culminating in direct experience of one's true nature.

The three yogas — action, devotion, and knowledge — are complementary paths to the same realization.

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”