Word meanings
- cātuḥ-varṇyam
- the four categories of occupations
- mayā
- by me
- sṛṣṭam
- were created
- guṇa
- of quality
- karma
- and activities
- vibhāgaśaḥ
- according to divisions
- tasya
- of that
- kartāram
- the creator
- api
- although
- mām
- me
- viddhi
- know
- akartāram
- non-doer
- avyayam
- unchangeable
Translations
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.
The four divisions of society—the wise, the soldier, the merchant, and the laborer—were created by Me, according to the natural distribution of qualities and instincts. I am the author of them, though I Myself do not act and am changeless.
The four castes have been created by Me through a classification of the gunas and duties. Even though I am the agent of that (act of classification), still know Me to be non-agentive and changeless.
।।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।Commentary
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).