चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः। तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्।।4.13।।
chātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛiṣhṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśhaḥ tasya kartāram api māṁ viddhyakartāram avyayam
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
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In English by Swami Adidevananda
The 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.
In English by Swami Sivananda
The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma; though I am the author of it, know Me as non-doer and immutable.
In Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdas
।।4.13 -- 4.14।। मेरे द्वारा गुणों और कर्मोंके विभागपूर्वक चारों वर्णोंकी रचना की गयी है। उस-(सृष्टि-रचना आदि-) का कर्ता होनेपर भी मुझ अव्यय रमेश्वरको तू अकर्ता जान। कारण कि कर्मोंके फलमें मेरी स्पृहा नहीं है, इसलिये मुझे कर्म लिप्त नहीं करते। इस प्रकार जो मुझे तत्त्वसे जान लेता है, वह भी कर्मोंसे नहीं बँधता।
In English by Swami Sivananda
4.13 चातुर्वर्ण्यम् the fourfold caste, मया be Me, सृष्टम् has been created, गुणकर्मविभागशः according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma, तस्य thereof, कर्तारम् the author, अपि also, माम् Me, विद्धि know, अकर्तारम् nondoer, अव्ययम् immutable.Commentary The four castes (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra) are classified according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma. In a Brahmana, Sattva predominates. He possesses selfrestraint, purity, serenity, straightforwardness, devotion, etc. In a Kshatriya, Rajs predominates. He possesses prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity, generosity and the nature of a ruler. In a Vaishya, Rajas predominates and Tamas is subordinate to Rajas. He does the duty of ploughing, protection of cattle and trade. In a Sudra Tamas predominates and Rajas is subordinate to Tamas. He does service to the other three castes. Human temperaments and tendencies vary according to the Gunas.Though the Lord is the author of the caste system, yet He is not the author as He is the nondoer. He is not subject to Samsara. Really Maya does everything. Maya is the real author. Society can exist in a flourishing state if the four castes do their duties properly. Otherwise there will be chaos, rupture and fighting. (Cf.XVIII.41).
In Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdas
4.13।। व्याख्या--'चातुर्वर्ण्यं' (टिप्पणी प0 235.1) 'मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः'--पूर्वजन्मोंमें किये गये कर्मोंके अनुसार सत्त्व, रज और तम--इन तीनों गुणोंमें न्यूनाधिकता रहती है। सृष्टि-रचनाके समय उन गुणों और कर्मोंके अनुसार भगवान् ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्र--इन चारों वर्णोंकी रचना करते हैं (टिप्पणी प0 235.2)। मनुष्यके सिवाय देव, पितर, तिर्यक् आदि दूसरी योनियोंकी रचना भी भगवान् गुणों और कर्मोंके अनुसार ही करते हैं। इसमें भगवान्की किञ्चिन्मात्र भी विषमता नहीं है।