Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 13

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्

cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ | tasya kartāramapi māṃ viddhyakartāramavyayam

Translation

The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the distribution of energies and actions; though I am the author thereof, know Me as non-agent and immutable.

— Alladi Mahadeva Sastri

Word meanings

cāturvarṇyam

the four castes

mayā

by me

sṛṣṭam

emanated

guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ

of qualities and of actions, and, by division

tasya

of it

kartāram

the author

api

also

mām

me

viddhi

know

akartāram

unacting

avyayam

inexhaustible

Śaṅkarācārya's commentary

The four castes (varṇas) have been created by Me, Īśvara, according to the distribution of energies (guṇas) and of actions. The energies are Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. The actions of a brāhmaṇa (priest), in whom Sattva predominates, are serenity, self-restraint, austerity, etc. (xviii.42). The actions of a kṣatriya (warrior), in whom Rajas predominates and Sattva is subordinate to Rajas, are prowess, daring, etc. (xviii.43). The actions of a vaiśya (merchant), in whom Rajas predominates and Tamas is subordinate to Rajas, are agriculture, etc. (xviii.44). The action of a śūdra (servant), in whom Tamas predominates and Rajas is subordinate to Tamas, is only servitude. This fourfold caste does not exist in other worlds. Hence the limitation "in this world of man" (iv.12). Though I am the author of this act when viewed from the standpoint of Māyā, still, know thou that I am in reality no agent and therefore not subject to saṃsāra.