Chapter 18 · Moksha Sannyasa Yoga - The Yoga of Liberation through RenunciationKrishna
Verse 41
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 18, श्लोक 41
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप।
कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः॥
Transliteration
Brahmana-kshatriya-visham shudranam cha Parantapa
Karmani pravibhaktani svabhava-prabhavair-gunaih
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
ब्राह्मणBrahmanaBrahmanas
क्षत्रियKshatriyaKshatriyas
विशाम्vishamVaishyas
शूद्राणाम्ShudranamShudras
परन्तपParantapaO scorcher of foes
कर्माणिkarmaniduties
प्रविभक्तानिpravibhaktaniare divided
स्वभावप्रभवैःsvabhava-prabhavaihborn of their own nature
गुणैःgunaihby the gunas
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे परन्तप! ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्रों के कर्म उनके स्वभाव से उत्पन्न गुणों के अनुसार विभाजित किए गए हैं।
English Translation
O Parantapa, the duties of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras are distributed according to the qualities born of their own natures.
Commentary (टीका)
This verse describes the Varna system as based on innate qualities (gunas) and natural tendencies (svabhava), not birth. The emphasis on 'born of their own nature' indicates that one's natural disposition determines one's most suitable role in society. This is a functional classification, not a rigid hereditary hierarchy.