Bhagavad Gita: Understanding One Shloka at a time. (Chp. 4, Verse 13) — HBR Patel
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागश: |
तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् || 13||
The four classes were created by me based on the differences in quality, activities and aptitude. Although, I am the creator of this system, known me as the non-doer being unchangeable.
In this Bhagwan Shri Krishna mentions about the four classes based on the three Gunas of Satva, Rajas and Tamas. This has to be understood and we must perform the daily karmas based on this division.
Earlier, Bhagwan Shri Krishna told Arjuna that everyone has to perform the karmas and briefly explained about Swadharma in the Karmayoga. By performing the Swadharma, the bondage of that Karma does not hinder us from attaining liberation. Bhagwan Shri Krishna highlights the best way to perform our duties in this world, which is the essence of Karmayoga, by pointing out the different categories or varnas.
Just before we go through its explanation, remember these varnas are not the caste system that was devised and manipulated by invaders and exploiters of this nation. This system is purely defined by the quality, activities and aptitude of the human and the best part of this system is that the qualities, with which this system is devised, are not etched in stone. The qualities can be changed, thus birth has no role to play in deciding the varnas.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna points out that division is created based on three Gunas. Let us understand those three Gunas first.
Satva Guna: Satva means the mode of goodness. Satva manifests harmony, intelligence, and purity. It is the quality of kindness, happiness, fulfilment, nobility, and contentment.
Rajas Guna: Rajo Guna is the mode of passion. Rajas exhibit motion, energy, passion, and activity. Rajo Guna is characterised by a sense of attachment, a yearning for fulfilment, and a longing.
Tamas Guna: Tamas is the mode of ignorance. Tamo Guna manifests impure, lethargy, and obscurity. It is a result of ignorance that keeps all beings from understanding and realizing the eternal truth.
The three Gunas affect our thought, actions, habits, and characters. Based on three Gunas, Bhagwan Shri Krishna highlights the four varnas:
Brahmins: The Brahmins have dominance of the sattva guna or mode of goodness, and because they possess control over their minds and senses, it is their responsibility to morally and spiritually lead humanity to righteousness.
Kshatriya: The Kshatriya, or warrior class, has some sattva, but Rajas Guna, or mode of passion, predominates. Their responsibilities include defending humanity and protecting dharma, or righteousness, from the impact of evil.
Vaisya: Vaisya’s have some rajas and a preponderance of Tama-guna, or way of ignorance. The responsibilities of the Vaisyas include farming, agriculture, trade, and cow protection. They have a mode of passion coupled with some mode of ignorance.
Shudra: Shudras are predominated by Tamaguna. They form the labourer class and are situated in the ignorant mode of material nature.
Remember, this classification is not permanent and based on the Gunas that are prevalent, the living being can be said to be in that particular varna. One can become brahmin by overcoming ignorance and attaining knowledge.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna further states that although he is the creator of the system, he is not the cause of societal imbalance because this is due to the living being's subsequent reactions and choices. He is the creator but by free will, the living beings are free to choose their own course of action. Bhagwan Shri Krishna is impartial just like sunlight nourished all as it does not perform partiality based on the skin colour or amount of wealth possessed.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna is like a rain droplet. That rain droplet is the same but the outcome is different.
If the rain falls on Swati star day the oysters open their mouth to drink the raindrop and the raindrop become a pearl. If the same raindrop falls in the sugarcane fields that raindrop is converted to a sweet sugar. If the same raindrop is drunk by the snake, it becomes poisonous.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna is impartial and provides the same energy to each and every soul but it is the choice and reaction that makes the difference. Choose wisely.
