The Origin of the Four Varnas

Verse 1 (vishnu.1.6.1)

श्रीमैत्रेय उवाच । अर्वाक्स्रोतस् तु कथितो भवता यस् तु मानुषः । ब्रह्मन् विस्तरतो ब्रूहि ब्रह्मा तम् असृजद् यथा

śrīmaitreya uvāca arvāksrotas tu kathito bhavatā yas tu mānuṣaḥ brahman vistarato brūhi brahmā tam asṛjad yathā

Shri Maitreya said: You have told me of the Arvaksrota creation, that of men, O brahmin; tell me in detail how Brahma created it.

Verse 2 (vishnu.1.6.2)

यथा च वर्णान् असृजद् यद्गुणांश् च महामुने । यच् च तेषां स्मृतं कर्म विप्रादीनां तद् उच्यताम्

yathā ca varṇān asṛjad yadguṇāṁś ca mahāmune yac ca teṣāṁ smṛtaṁ karma viprādīnāṁ tad ucyatām

And how he created the varnas, O great sage, with what qualities; and what is remembered as the duty of each — brahmins and the rest — tell me that.

Verse 3 (vishnu.1.6.3)

श्रीपराशर उवाच । सत्याभिध्यायिनः पूर्वं सिसृक्षोर् ब्रह्मणो जगत् । अजायन्त द्विजश्रेष्ठ सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता मुखात् प्रजाः

śrīparāśara uvāca satyābhidhyāyinaḥ pūrvaṁ sisṛkṣor brahmaṇo jagat ajāyanta dvijaśreṣṭha sattvodriktā mukhāt prajāḥ

Shri Parashara said: O best of the twice-born, when Brahma, formerly meditating truly and desiring to create the world, from his mouth were born creatures predominant in sattva.

Verse 4 (vishnu.1.6.4)

वक्षसो रजसोद्रिक्तास् तथान्या ब्रह्मणोऽभवन् । रजसा तमसा चैव समुद्रिक्तास् तथोरुतः

vakṣaso rajasodriktās tathānyā brahmaṇo 'bhavan rajasā tamasā caiva samudriktās tathorutaḥ

Others, predominant in rajas, arose from Brahma's chest; and others, mixed with rajas and tamas, arose likewise from his thighs.

Verse 5 (vishnu.1.6.5)

पद्भ्याम् अन्याः प्रजा ब्रह्मा ससर्ज द्विजसत्तम । तमःप्रधानास् ताः सर्वाश् चातुर्वर्ण्यम् इदं ततः

padbhyām anyāḥ prajā brahmā sasarja dvijasattama tamaḥpradhānās tāḥ sarvāś cāturvarṇyam idaṁ tataḥ

O best of the twice-born, from his feet Brahma created other creatures, all predominant in tamas; from these, this system of the four varnas arose.

Verse 6 (vishnu.1.6.6)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश् च द्विजसत्तम । पादोरुवक्षःस्थलतो मुखतश् च समुद्गताः

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāś ca dvijasattama pādoruvakṣaḥsthalato mukhataś ca samudgatāḥ

O best of the twice-born, brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras arose from his feet, thighs, chest, and mouth, respectively.

Verse 7 (vishnu.1.6.7)

यज्ञनिष्पत्तये सर्वम् एतद् ब्रह्मा चकार वै । चातुर्वर्ण्यं महाभाग यज्ञसाधनम् उत्तमम्

yajñaniṣpattaye sarvam etad brahmā cakāra vai cāturvarṇyaṁ mahābhāga yajñasādhanam uttamam

All of this Brahma did for the accomplishment of sacrifice; O illustrious one, the fourfold varna system is the supreme instrument of sacrifice.

Verse 8 (vishnu.1.6.8)

यज्ञैर् आप्यायिता देवा वृष्ट्युत्सर्गेण वै प्रजाः । आप्याययन्ते धर्मज्ञ यज्ञाः कल्याणहेतवः

yajñair āpyāyitā devā vṛṣṭyutsargeṇa vai prajāḥ āpyāyayante dharmajña yajñāḥ kalyāṇahetavaḥ

The gods are gratified by sacrifices, and creatures by the release of rain; O knower of dharma, sacrifices are the cause of prosperity, and they in turn bring gratification.

Verse 9 (vishnu.1.6.9)

निष्पाद्यन्ते नरैस् तैस् तु स्वकर्माभिरतैः सदा । विशुद्धाचरणोपेतैः सद्भिः सन्मार्गगामिभिः

niṣpādyante narais tais tu svakarmābhirataiḥ sadā viśuddhācaraṇopetaiḥ sadbhiḥ sanmārgagāmibhiḥ

They are accomplished by those men who are ever devoted to their own proper duties, endowed with pure conduct, virtuous, and walking the good path.

Verse 10 (vishnu.1.6.10)

स्वर्गापवर्गौ मानुष्यात् प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा मुने । यद् वाभिरुचितं स्थानं तद् यान्ति मनुजा द्विज

svargāpavargau mānuṣyāt prāpnuvanti narā mune yad vābhirucitaṁ sthānaṁ tad yānti manujā dvija

O sage, men attain heaven and liberation through their human birth; and, O brahmin, men go to whatever state they have inclined toward.

Verse 11 (vishnu.1.6.11)

प्रजास् ता ब्रह्मणा सृष्टाश् चातुर्वर्ण्यव्यवस्थितौ । सम्यक्छ्रद्धाः समाचारप्रवणा मुनिसत्तम

prajās tā brahmaṇā sṛṣṭāś cāturvarṇyavyavasthitau samyakchraddhāḥ samācārapravaṇā munisattama

O best of sages, those creatures created by Brahma, established in the fourfold varna system, possessed proper faith and were devoted to right conduct.

Verse 12 (vishnu.1.6.12)

यथेच्छावासनिरताः सर्वबाधाविवर्जिताः । शुद्धान्तःकरणाः शुद्धाः सर्वानुष्ठाननिर्मलाः

yathecchāvāsaniratāḥ sarvabādhāvivarjitāḥ śuddhāntaḥkaraṇāḥ śuddhāḥ sarvānuṣṭhānanirmalāḥ

They dwelt as they pleased, free from all affliction, with pure inner faculties, pure, and stainless through the performance of all their duties.

Verse 13 (vishnu.1.6.13)

शुद्धे च तासां मनसि शुद्धेऽन्तःसंस्थिते हरौ । शुद्धज्ञानं प्रपश्यन्ति विष्ण्वाख्यं येन तत् पदम्

śuddhe ca tāsāṁ manasi śuddhe 'ntaḥsaṁsthite harau śuddhajñānaṁ prapaśyanti viṣṇvākhyaṁ yena tat padam

With their minds pure, and with Hari, the pure, abiding within, they beheld pure knowledge, by which that state called Vishnu is attained.

Verse 14 (vishnu.1.6.14)

ततः कालात्मको योऽसौ स चांशः कथितो हरेः । स पातयत्य् अघं घोरम् अल्पम् अल्पाल्पसारवत्

tataḥ kālātmako yo 'sau sa cāṁśaḥ kathito hareḥ sa pātayaty aghaṁ ghoram alpam alpālpasāravat

Then that portion of Hari which is called Time itself brought down upon them an evil, terrible though small, a thing of scarcely any substance —

Verse 15 (vishnu.1.6.15)

अधर्मबीजम् उद्भूतं तमोलोभसमुद्भवम् । प्रजासु तासु मैत्रेय रागादिकम् असाधकम्

adharmabījam udbhūtaṁ tamolobhasamudbhavam prajāsu tāsu maitreya rāgādikam asādhakam

the seed of unrighteousness sprang forth, born of darkness and greed; O Maitreya, among those creatures, passion and the like, which lead to no true accomplishment.

Verse 16 (vishnu.1.6.16)

ततः सा सहजा सिद्धिस् तेषां नातीव जायते । रसोल्लासादयश् चान्याः सिद्धयोऽष्टौ भवन्ति याः

tataḥ sā sahajā siddhis teṣāṁ nātīva jāyate rasollāsādayaś cānyāḥ siddhayo 'ṣṭau bhavanti yāḥ

Then that innate perfection of theirs ceased to arise so abundantly; and the other eight perfections, beginning with 'rasollasa' —

Verse 17 (vishnu.1.6.17)

तासु क्षीणास्व् अशेषासु वर्धमाने च पातके । द्वन्द्वाभिभवदुःखार्तास् ता भवन्ति ततः प्रजाः

tāsu kṣīṇāsv aśeṣāsu vardhamāne ca pātake dvandvābhibhavaduḥkhārtās tā bhavanti tataḥ prajāḥ

as those innate perfections gradually diminished entirely, and sin increased, those creatures became afflicted with the suffering born of the pairs of opposites.

Verse 18 (vishnu.1.6.18)

ततो दुर्गाणि ताश् चक्रुर् वार्क्षं पार्वतम् औदकम् । कृत्रिमं च तथा दुर्गं पुरखर्वटकादि यत्

tato durgāṇi tāś cakrur vārkṣaṁ pārvatam audakam kṛtrimaṁ ca tathā durgaṁ purakharvaṭakādi yat

Then they built fortified dwellings — of trees, on mountains, in water — and artificial strongholds as well, such as cities and hamlets.

Verse 19 (vishnu.1.6.19)

गृहाणि च यथान्यायं तेषु चक्रुः पुरादिषु । शीतातपादिबाधानां प्रशमाय महामते

gṛhāṇi ca yathānyāyaṁ teṣu cakruḥ purādiṣu śītātapādibādhānāṁ praśamāya mahāmate

And they built houses within those cities and the rest, as was proper, O wise one, to ward off the afflictions of cold, heat, and the like.

Verse 20 (vishnu.1.6.20)

प्रतीकारम् इमं कृत्वा शीतादेस् ताः प्रजाः पुनः । वार्तोपायं ततश् चक्रुर् हस्तसिद्धिं च कर्मजाम्

pratīkāram imaṁ kṛtvā śītādes tāḥ prajāḥ punaḥ vārtopāyaṁ tataś cakrur hastasiddhiṁ ca karmajām

Having thus devised this remedy against cold and the rest, those creatures then devised the means of livelihood, and manual skills born of labour.

Verse 21 (vishnu.1.6.21)

व्रीहयश् च यवाश् चैव गोधूमा अणवस् तिलाः । प्रियंगवो ह्य् उदाराश् च कोरदूषाः सतीनकाः

vrīhayaś ca yavāś caiva godhūmā aṇavas tilāḥ priyaṁgavo hy udārāś ca koradūṣāḥ satīnakāḥ

Rice, barley, wheat, the grain called anu, sesame, panic-seed (priyangu), udara, koradusha, and satinaka —

Verse 22 (vishnu.1.6.22)

माषा मुद्गा मसूराश् च निष्पावाः सकुलत्थकाः । आढक्यश् चणकाश् चैव शणाः सप्तदश स्मृताः

māṣā mudgā masūrāś ca niṣpāvāḥ sakulatthakāḥ āḍhakyaś caṇakāś caiva śaṇāḥ saptadaśa smṛtāḥ

black gram, green gram, lentil, common bean, horse gram, pigeon pea, chickpea, and hemp — these are remembered as seventeen in all.

Verse 23 (vishnu.1.6.23)

इत्य् एता ओषधीनां तु ग्राम्यानां जातयो मुने । ओषध्यो यज्ञियाश् चैव ग्राम्यारण्याश् चतुर्दश

ity etā oṣadhīnāṁ tu grāmyānāṁ jātayo mune oṣadhyo yajñiyāś caiva grāmyāraṇyāś caturdaśa

Thus, O sage, these are the varieties of the domesticated grains. Those used in sacrifice, both domesticated and wild, number fourteen.

Verse 24 (vishnu.1.6.24)

व्रीहयः सयवा माषा गोधूमा अणवस् तिलाः । प्रियंगुसप्तमा ह्य् एता अष्टमास् तु कुलत्थकाः

vrīhayaḥ sayavā māṣā godhūmā aṇavas tilāḥ priyaṁgusaptamā hy etā aṣṭamās tu kulatthakāḥ

Rice with barley, black gram, wheat, sesame, and anu, with priyangu as the seventh — these, and kulattha as the eighth —

Verse 25 (vishnu.1.6.25)

श्यामाकास् त्व् अथ नीवारा जर्तिलाः सगवेधुकाः । तथा वेणुयवाः प्रोक्तास् तद्वन् मर्कटका मुने

śyāmākās tv atha nīvārā jartilāḥ sagavedhukāḥ tathā veṇuyavāḥ proktās tadvan markaṭakā mune

Shyamaka, wild rice, jartila, gavedhuka, likewise the bamboo-grain, and, O sage, similarly markataka —

Verse 26 (vishnu.1.6.26)

ग्राम्यारण्याः स्मृता ह्य् एता ओषध्यस् तु चतुर्दश । यज्ञनिष्पत्तये यज्ञस् तथासां हेतुर् उत्तमः

grāmyāraṇyāḥ smṛtā hy etā oṣadhyas tu caturdaśa yajñaniṣpattaye yajñas tathāsāṁ hetur uttamaḥ

these fourteen are remembered as the domesticated-and-wild grains; sacrifice is likewise the supreme cause for their own accomplishment.

Verse 27 (vishnu.1.6.27)

एताश् च सह यज्ञेन प्रजानां कारणं परम् । परावरविदः प्राज्ञास् ततो यज्ञान् वितन्वते

etāś ca saha yajñena prajānāṁ kāraṇaṁ param parāvaravidaḥ prājñās tato yajñān vitanvate

These, together with sacrifice, are the supreme cause of creatures' prosperity; therefore the wise, knowing what is higher and what is lower, perform sacrifices.

Verse 28 (vishnu.1.6.28)

अहन्य् अहन्य् अनुष्ठानं यज्ञानां मुनिसत्तम । उपकारकरं पुंसां क्रियमाणाघशान्तिदम्

ahany ahany anuṣṭhānaṁ yajñānāṁ munisattama upakārakaraṁ puṁsāṁ kriyamāṇāghaśāntidam

O best of sages, the daily performance of sacrifices benefits men and grants the quelling of sins as it is performed.

Verse 29 (vishnu.1.6.29)

येषां तु कालसृष्टोऽसौ पापबिन्दुर् महामते । चेतःसु ववृधे चक्रुस् ते न यज्ञेषु मानसम्

yeṣāṁ tu kālasṛṣṭo 'sau pāpabindur mahāmate cetaḥsu vavṛdhe cakrus te na yajñeṣu mānasam

But those in whose hearts that seed of sin, created by Time, O wise one, grew — they did not set their minds upon sacrifices.

Verse 30 (vishnu.1.6.30)

वेदवादांस् तथा वेदान् यज्ञकर्मादिकं च यत् । तत् सर्वं निन्दमानास् ते यज्ञव्यासेधकारिणः

vedavādāṁs tathā vedān yajñakarmādikaṁ ca yat tat sarvaṁ nindamānās te yajñavyāsedhakāriṇaḥ

Reviling the doctrines of the Veda, the Vedas themselves, and the acts of sacrifice and the rest, they became opponents of sacrifice.

Verse 31 (vishnu.1.6.31)

प्रवृत्तिमार्गव्युच्छित्तिकारिणो वेदनिन्दकाः । दुरात्मानो दुराचारा बभूवुः कुटिलाशयाः

pravṛttimārgavyucchittikāriṇo vedanindakāḥ durātmāno durācārā babhūvuḥ kuṭilāśayāḥ

Seeking to destroy the path of worldly action, reviling the Veda, they became evil-souled, of wicked conduct, and crooked in their intentions.

Verse 32 (vishnu.1.6.32)

संसिद्धायां तु वार्तायां प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा प्रजापतिः । मर्यादां स्थापयाम् आस यथास्थानं यथागुणम्

saṁsiddhāyāṁ tu vārtāyāṁ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā prajāpatiḥ maryādāṁ sthāpayām āsa yathāsthānaṁ yathāguṇam

When the means of livelihood had been fully accomplished, Prajapati, having created the creatures, established the proper order, according to each one's place and quality.

Verse 33 (vishnu.1.6.33)

वर्णानाम् आश्रमाणां च धर्मान् धर्मभृतां वर । लोकांश् च सर्ववर्णानां सम्यग्धर्मानुपालिनाम्

varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ ca dharmān dharmabhṛtāṁ vara lokāṁś ca sarvavarṇānāṁ samyagdharmānupālinām

O best of the upholders of dharma: the duties of the varnas and of the life-stages, and the worlds destined for all the varnas who properly follow their dharma —

Verse 34 (vishnu.1.6.34)

प्राजापत्यं ब्राह्मणानां स्मृतं स्थानं क्रियावताम् । स्थानम् ऐन्द्रं क्षत्रियाणां संग्रामेष्व् अनिवर्तिनाम्

prājāpatyaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ smṛtaṁ sthānaṁ kriyāvatām sthānam aindraṁ kṣatriyāṇāṁ saṁgrāmeṣv anivartinām

The abode remembered for brahmins devoted to ritual action is that of Prajapati; the abode of Indra is for kshatriyas who never retreat in battle.

Verse 35 (vishnu.1.6.35)

वैश्यानां मारुतं स्थानं स्वधर्मनिरतात्मनाम् । गान्धर्वं शूद्रजातीनां परिचर्यानुवर्तिनाम्

vaiśyānāṁ mārutaṁ sthānaṁ svadharmaniratātmanām gāndharvaṁ śūdrajātīnāṁ paricaryānuvartinām

The abode of the Maruts is for vaishyas devoted to their own duty; the abode of the Gandharvas is for those of shudra birth who are devoted to service.

Verse 36 (vishnu.1.6.36)

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणि मुनीनाम् ऊर्ध्वरेतसाम् । स्मृतं तेषां तु यत् स्थानं तद् एव गुरुवासिनाम्

aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇi munīnām ūrdhvaretasām smṛtaṁ teṣāṁ tu yat sthānaṁ tad eva guruvāsinām

The abode remembered for the eighty-eight thousand sages of upward-flowing seed (the celibate ascetics) is the same as that for those who dwell with their teacher, the brahmacharins.

Verse 37 (vishnu.1.6.37)

सप्तर्षीणां तु यत् स्थानं स्मृतं तद् वै वनौकसाम् । प्राजापत्यं गृहस्थानां ब्राह्मं संन्यासिनां स्मृतम्

saptarṣīṇāṁ tu yat sthānaṁ smṛtaṁ tad vai vanaukasām prājāpatyaṁ gṛhasthānāṁ brāhmaṁ saṁnyāsināṁ smṛtam

The abode remembered for the Seven Sages is that for forest-dwellers; the abode of Prajapati is for householders, and the abode of Brahman is remembered for renunciants.

Verse 38 (vishnu.1.6.38)

योगिनाम् अमृतं स्थानं यद् विष्णोः परमं पदम्

yoginām amṛtaṁ sthānaṁ yad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padam

The immortal abode of the yogis is that supreme state of Vishnu.

Verse 39 (vishnu.1.6.39)

एकान्तिनः सदा ब्रह्मध्यायिनो योगिनो हि ये । तेषां तत् परमं स्थानं यद् वै पश्यन्ति सूरयः

ekāntinaḥ sadā brahmadhyāyino yogino hi ye teṣāṁ tat paramaṁ sthānaṁ yad vai paśyanti sūrayaḥ

For those who are single-minded, ever meditating upon Brahman, the yogis — that is their supreme abode, which the wise alone behold.

Verse 40 (vishnu.1.6.40)

गत्वा गत्वा निवर्तन्ते चन्द्रसूर्यादयो ग्रहाः । अद्यापि न निवर्तन्ते द्वादशाक्षरचिन्तकाः

gatvā gatvā nivartante candrasūryādayo grahāḥ adyāpi na nivartante dvādaśākṣaracintakāḥ

The moon, the sun, and the other planets, having gone forth again and again, return; but those who meditate upon the twelve-syllabled mantra do not return, even to this day.

Verse 41 (vishnu.1.6.41)

तामिस्रम् अन्धतामिस्रं महारौरवरौरवौ । असिपत्रवनं घोरं कालसूत्रम् अवीचिमत्

tāmisram andhatāmisraṁ mahārauravarauravau asipatravanaṁ ghoraṁ kālasūtram avīcimat

Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Maharaurava and Raurava, the terrible Asipatravana (forest of sword-leaves), Kalasutra, and Avichi —

Verse 42 (vishnu.1.6.42)

विनिन्दकानां वेदस्य यज्ञव्यासेधकारिणाम् । स्थानम् एतत् समाख्यातं स्वधर्मत्यागिनश् च ये

vinindakānāṁ vedasya yajñavyāsedhakāriṇām sthānam etat samākhyātaṁ svadharmatyāginaś ca ye

This is declared to be the abode of those who revile the Veda, who oppose sacrifice, and who abandon their own proper duty.