Bhagavad Gita 4.13चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः।तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥
chātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛiṣhṭaṁ
guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśhaḥ tasya kartāram api māṁ viddhyakartāram avyayam
Sanskrit recitation
Wisdom that returns in every age · 4.1–4.15 · Teaching
Translation
The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma; though I am the author of it, know Me as non-doer and immutable.
Hindi translation
।।4.13 -- 4.14।। मेरे द्वारा गुणों और कर्मोंके विभागपूर्वक चारों वर्णोंकी रचना की गयी है। उस-(सृष्टि-रचना आदि-) का कर्ता होनेपर भी मुझ अव्यय रमेश्वरको तू अकर्ता जान। कारण कि कर्मोंके फलमें मेरी स्पृहा नहीं है, इसलिये मुझे कर्म लिप्त नहीं करते। इस प्रकार जो मुझे तत्त्वसे जान लेता है, वह भी कर्मोंसे नहीं बँधता।
Meaning
The four castes (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra) are classified according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma. In a Brahmana, Sattva predominates. He possesses selfrestraint, purity, serenity, straightforwardness, devotion, etc. In a Kshatriya, Rajs predominates. He possesses prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity, generosity and the nature of a ruler. In a Vaishya, Rajas predominates and Tamas is subordinate to Rajas. He does the duty of ploughing, protection of cattle and trade. In a Sudra Tamas predominates and Rajas is subordinate to Tamas. He does service to the other three castes. Human temperaments and tendencies vary according to the Gunas.Though the Lord is the author of the caste system, yet He is not the author as He is the nondoer. He is not subject to Samsara. Really Maya does everything. Maya is the real author. Society can exist in a flourishing state if the four castes do their duties properly. Otherwise there will be chaos, rupture and fighting. (Cf.XVIII.41).
After Swami Sivananda
Wisdom that returns in every age· 4.1–4.15→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 4.1The Blessed Lord said, "I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he then told it to…
- 4.2This, handed down in regular succession by the royal sages, was known. This Yoga, however,…
- 4.3That same ancient yoga has been today taught to you by me, for you are my devotee and my…
- 4.4Arjuna said, "Later was Thy birth, and prior to it was the birth of Vivasvan (the Sun);…
- 4.5The Blessed Lord said, "Many births of Mine have passed, as well as of thine, O Arjuna; I…
- 4.6Though I am unborn and of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings,…
- 4.7Whenever there is a decline of righteousness and an increase of unrighteousness, O Arjuna,…
- 4.8For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the…
- 4.9He who thus knows, in their true light, My divine birth and actions, having abandoned the…
- 4.10Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by…
- 4.11In whatever way men approach Me, even so do I reward them; My path do men tread in all…
- 4.12Those who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods; for success is…
4.13The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and…
- 4.14Actions do not taint Me, nor do I have a desire for the fruit of actions. He who knows Me…
- 4.15Having known this, the ancient seekers of freedom also performed action; therefore, do…
Word-by-word→
- api
- although
- mām
- me
- karma
- and activities
- mayā
- by me
- tasya
- of that
- guṇa
- of quality
- viddhi
- know
- avyayam
- unchangeable
- kartāram
- the creator
- akartāram
- non-doer
- sṛiṣhṭam
- were created
- vibhāgaśhaḥ
- according to divisions
- chātuḥ-varṇyam
- the four categories of occupations
Read this when you feel
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