B.G 4.13
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः। तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥१३॥
cāturvarṇyaṁ mayā sr̥ṣṭaṁ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ। tasya kartāramapi māṁ viddhyakartāramavyayam ॥13॥
[चातुः वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुण कर्म विभागशः। तस्य कर्तारम् अपि मां विद्धि अकर्तारम् अव्ययम्॥
cātuḥ = four; varṇyaṁ = classes; mayā = by me; sr̥ṣṭaṁ = created; guṇa = qualities; karma = duties based on; vibhāgaśaḥ = classification system;। tasya = of it; kartāram = the doer; api = even; māṁ = me; viddhi = know; akartāram = non-doer; avyayam = imperishable;]
The classification system of four classes, based on the duties to be performed according to one's qualities, is created by Me. Even though I am the creator of these, know Me as the non-doer, and as imperishable.
Gīta Tātparya 4.13
Only those who are of 'sātwik' quality are Vaishnavas, i.e. devotees of lord Vishnu. The varna classification based on birth is merely indicative based on the number of 'sātwik' devotees found. Vaishnavas are found in all classes, and the apparent differences eventually dissolve as per the inherent nature. Divisions based on the action is stated at verse 18.42 of Gita. The word 'api' referenced regarding a combination of qualities is to be understood to mean 'none creates Me'.
"सत्वसत्वाधिकरजोरजोभिस्तमसा तथा। वर्णा विभक्ताश्चत्वारः सात्विका एव वैष्णवा॥" ]
"satvasatvādhikarajorajobhistamasā tathā। varṇā vibhaktāścatvāraḥ sātvikā eva vaiṣṇavā॥"
["satvasatvādhikarajorajobhistamasā = from 'satwa' comes goodness, from 'rajas' comes excess of passion, and from 'tamas' comes; tathā = in the same way (i.e. comes darkness);। varṇā = the varnas; vibhaktāścatvāraḥ = classification into four; sātvikā eva = only those who are of 'saatwik' quality; vaiṣṇavā = are Vaishnavas;]
"From 'satwa' quality comes goodness, from 'rajas' comes excess of passion, and from 'tamas' comes in the same way (darkness). Thus are the classification of the varnas into four. Only those who are of 'sātwik' quality are Vaishnavas, i.e. devotees of lord Vishnu.
इति च।
iti ca।
[iti ca = stated thus;]
-stated thus.
कर्मविभागं "शमो दम" इत्यादिना वक्ष्यति।
karmavibhāgaṁ "śamo dama" ityādinā vakṣyati।
[karmavibhāgaṁ = divisions based on action or duties to perform; "śamo dama" ityādinā vakṣyati = is stated at verse "śamo dama" (18.42) onwards; ।]
Divisions based on the action is stated at verse "śamo dama" (18.42), and onwards.
"वैष्णवाः सात्विका एव तामसा एव चापरे। दौर्लभ्यसुलभत्वेन तेषां वर्णादिभिन्नता॥"
"vaiṣṇavāḥ sātvikā eva tāmasā eva cāpare। daurlabhyasulabhatvena teṣāṁ varṇādibhinnatā॥"
["vaiṣṇavāḥ = the Vasishnavas, i.e. followers of lord Vishnu; sātvikā eva = are indeed with 'saatwik' quality; tāmasā = those with 'tamasic' quality; eva = indeed; cāpare = and, others;। daurlabhyasulabhatvena = due to rarity, and ease of availability; teṣāṁ = of them; varṇādibhinnatā = diversity in castes and others;]
Indeed, the Vaishnavas, i.e. followers of lord Vishnu, are of Sātwik quality. Based on their ease of availability and rarity, they are classified into varnas.
इति च।
iti ca।
[iti ca = stated thus as well;]
-stated thus as well.
"स्वाभाविको ब्राह्मणादिः शमाद्यैरेव भिद्यते। योनिभेदकृतो भेदो ज्ञेय औपाधिकस्त्वयम्। विष्णुभक्तिश्चानुगता सर्ववर्णेषु विश्पतिम्। आरभ्य हीयतेऽथापि भेदः स्वाभाविकस्ततः॥"
"svābhāviko brāhmaṇādiḥ śamādyaireva bhidyate। yonibhedakr̥to bhedo jñeya aupādhikastvayam। viṣṇubhaktiścānugatā sarvavarṇeṣu viśpatim। ārabhya hīyate'thāpi bhedaḥ svābhāvikastataḥ॥"
[svābhāviko = it is natural; brāhmaṇādiḥ = for 'brahmins'; śamādyaireva = to have qualities like control over senses; bhidyate = is distinguished;। yonibhedakr̥to = the differentiation based on birth; bhedo jñeya = such differenciation should be known; aupādhikastvayam = is guided by attributes;। viṣṇubhaktiścānugatā = as per devotion to lord Vishnu; sarvavarṇeṣu = in all varnas; viśpatim = the lord of all;। ārabhya = having begun; hīyate'thāpi = neverthless dessolves; bhedaḥ = the distinction; svābhāvikastataḥ = from that, inherent nature;]
"The Brahmin and others are distinguished solely by qualities such as control of senses. The difference caused by distinctions in birth should be understood as merely attributive. Devotion to Vishnu, the lord of all, is to be found in all varnas. Even though distinctions may arise (because of birth), they eventually dissolve as per the inherent nature."
इति नारदीये।
iti nāradīye।
[iti nāradīye = states Naradiya Purana]
-sates Naradiya Purana.
"कर्तापि भगवान् विष्णुरकर्तेति च कथ्यते। तस्य कर्ता यतो नान्यः स्वतन्त्रत्वात् परात्मनः॥"
"kartāpi bhagavān viṣṇurakarteti ca kathyate। tasya kartā yato nānyaḥ svatantratvāt parātmanaḥ॥"
[kartāpi = even though the doer; bhagavān = the lord; viṣṇurakarteti = Vishnu is non-doer; ca = and; kathyate = is spoken;। tasya = of him; kartā = the doer; yato = because; nānyaḥ = not different; svatantratvāt = because of independence; parātmanaḥ = of the Supreme Being;]
"The lord Vishnu is spoken of as 'non-doer' even though He is the doer. As that supreme being is independent, He is non different from his acts."
इति च।
iti ca।
[iti ca। = stated thus as well]
- stated thus as well by the testimonial.
अपिशब्दो गुणसमुच्चयार्थः। कर्ता मे नास्तीत्यपि विद्धीति ॥१३॥
apiśabdo guṇasamuccayārthaḥ। kartā me nāstītyapi viddhīti ॥13॥
[apiśabdo = the term 'api', i.e. 'even'; guṇasamuccayārthaḥ = is referenced regarding a combination of qualities; kartā me = creates me; nāstītyapi = none, to indicate 'api'; viddhīti = to be understood; ॥13॥]
The term 'api', i.e. 'even', is referenced regarding a combination of qualities. It is to be understood to mean 'none creates Me'.
