BG 18.41
The duties of scholars and priests, soldiers, merchants, and laborers have all been classified according to the natural qualities they are born with.
कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः
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brāhmaṇa-kṣhatriya-viśhāṁ — of the priests, warriors, and merchants
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brāhmaṇa — priests and scholars, Brahmins
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kṣhatriya — warriors and leaders, Kshatriyas
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viśhāṁ — merchants and agriculturists
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śhūdrāṇāṁ — of the worker class
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cha — and
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parantapa — Arjuna
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karmāṇi — duties
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pravibhaktāni — distributed
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svabhāva-prabhavair — based on difference in nature
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svabhāva
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prabhavair
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guṇaiḥ — and qualities of material nature
There is no creature on earth or in the heavens that is free from these three qualities, for they are born of nature. The duties of scholars and priests, soldiers, merchants, and laborers have all been classified according to the natural qualities they are born with. Serenity, self-control, austerity, purity, forgiveness, righteousness, knowledge, wisdom, and faith, are the duties of scholars and priests. The natural duties of a warrior are heroism, boldness, fortitude in battle, generosity, and leadership. The natural duties of the merchants are agriculture, tending to cattle, and trade, while the natural duty of a laborer is one of service.
Similar verses
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The four divisions of society - priests and scholars, leaders and warriors, farmers and merchants, servants and laborers - were created by me, according to the natural distribution of qualities and instincts. Though I have authored this, I am not the creator, and remain unchanging.
- Verse 4.13
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The natural duties of the merchants are agriculture, tending to cattle, and trade, while the natural duty of a laborer is one of service.
- Verse 18.44
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Serenity, self-control, austerity, purity, forgiveness, righteousness, knowledge, wisdom, and faith, are the duties of scholars and priests.
- Verse 18.42