Bhagavad-gītā 4.13
Read once with your eyes. Read again aloud.
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः। तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्।।4.13।।
chātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛiṣhṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśhaḥ tasya kartāram api māṁ viddhyakartāram avyayam
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.
English rendering by Shri Purohit Swami. Each source voice remains named.
Build the sentence from its parts
Read across once, then cover the meanings and recover them from the Sanskrit forms.
| Sanskrit form | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| chātuḥ-varṇyam | the four categories of occupations |
| mayā | by me |
| sṛiṣhṭam | were created |
| guṇa | of quality |
| karma | and activities |
| vibhāgaśhaḥ | according to divisions |
| tasya | of that |
| kartāram | the creator |
| api | although |
| mām | me |
| viddhi | know |
| akartāram | non-doer |
| avyayam | unchangeable |
The four castes are classified according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma. He possesses selfrestraint, purity, serenity, straightforwardness, devotion, etc.
Attributed explanatory witness: Swami Sivananda. Chapter lens: Follow the links among teaching lineage, divine appearance, action, knowledge, sacrifice and the teacher–student relationship.
Three named reading witnesses
Śaṅkara edition witness
Swami GambiranandaThe 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.
Rāmānuja edition witness
Swami AdidevanandaThe system of four stations was created by Me, according to the distinction of Gunas and Karma. Though I am their creator, know Me to be non-agent and immutable.
Sivananda commentary witness
Swami SivanandaThe four castes are classified according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma. He possesses selfrestraint, purity, serenity, straightforwardness, devotion, etc.
These are concise, attributed reading witnesses from identified editions. They are presented for comparison and are not merged into one anonymous interpretation.
Meaning map
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- 1
The four divisions of society
- 2
the wise, the soldier, the merchant
- 3
were created by Me, according to the natural distribution of qualities and instincts
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