BG 4.13
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.
तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्
Vedic society was divided into four groups:
- Brahmins were priests and scholars
- Kshatriyas were warriors and leaders
- Vaishyas were merchants, agriculturists, and traders
- Shudras were laborers, servants, and artisans
Modern perspective
The Bhagavad Gita has undoubtedly been used as justification for members of certain groups to oppress the members of others. The division of labor along inherited social boundaries remains a feature of modern Indian society, and is certainly contrary to the prevailing modern perspective of egalitarianism. The history of India and the caste system is actually quite divergent from the notion of class separation described in the Vedas.
The skeptical modern reader should take this opportunity to appreciate an ancient society whose foundational religious texts did not simply state that positions were inherited by birth. Rather, they are qualified to certain personality traits, and are said to be due to one's personality, as well to one's past karmic actions.
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chātur-varṇyaṁ — the four classes of society
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chātur — four
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varṇyaṁ — social classes
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mayā — by me
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sṛiṣhṭaṁ — were created
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guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśhaḥ — according to variation in personality and actions
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guṇa — qualities of material nature
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karma — activities, actions
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vibhāgaśhaḥ — according to divisions
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tasya — of that
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kartāram — the creator
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api — although
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māṁ — me
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viddhyakartāram — know I am not acting
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viddhi — know
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akartāram — non-doer
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avyayam — unchangeable
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. I am not contaminated by action, since I do not desire the fruit of actions. One who understands this is freed from the bondage of action. Be like the ancient sages, seekers of liberation who sought deliverance in the performance of their duties.