Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyasa Yogam Verse 41:
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People Have Varied Natures, And As A Result, They Are Best Suited For Various Professional Task
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप |
कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणै: || 18.41||
brāhmaṇa-kṣhatriya-viśhāṁ śhūdrāṇāṁ cha parantapa
karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ|| 18.41||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 18- Ver. 41:
O scorcher of enemies, the responsibilities of braahmans, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shoodras have been divided into categories based on the gunaas that were created by nature.
Explanation
According to the gunas that make up a person’s personality, Shree Krishna explains that people have different natures, and as a result, different professional duties are suitable for them. Varnashram Dharma was a system of scientifically organizing society based on svabhavair gunai (work based on one’s nature and guas). There were four Ashrams (stages of life) and four varnas in this categorization scheme (occupational categories).
The stages of life were as follows: 1) Brahmacharya ashram, or “student life,” which lasted from conception to age 25. 2) From the age of 25 to 50, there was grihastha ashram (home life), which was typical marital life. 3) Vanaprastha ashram, which was practiced from the age of 50 to 75, was a semi-renounced life.
One continued to live with the family at this stage while engaging in renunciation. 4) Sanyasa Ashrama (renounced order), which was available to people starting at the age of 75 and involved abandoning all domestic responsibilities in order to live in a holy location and focus solely on God.
The four varnas (occupational classes) were Brahmin (the class of priests), Kshatriya (the class of warriors and administrators), Vaishya (the class of merchants and farmers), and Shudra (worker class). The varnas did not regard one another as superior or inferior. Everyone worked in accordance with their inherent qualities to support themselves and society and make their lives successful by moving closer to God-realization because God was the center of society. Thus, there was diversity within unity in the varṇāśhram system. Nature’s inherent diversity cannot be eradicated.
One cannot disregard the diversity of people. Despite all efforts to equalize, there are still the four types of vocations. The Varnashram system acknowledged the variety of human natures and scientifically prescribed responsibilities and vocations that matched people’s natures.
The varnashram system, however, degraded over time, and the basis of the varnas shifted from one’s character to one’s birth. Regardless of whether they had the requisite traits or not, Brahmin offspring began referring to themselves as Brahmins. Additionally, the idea of upper and lower castes spread, and the upper castes started to despise the lower castes. The system deteriorated into dysfunction when it became inflexible and birth-based. This was not the initial aim of the Varnashram system; it was a sociological flaw that slowly crept in through time.
Verse & what we can learn
Every person has a different combination of gunas at birth, along with varying degrees of sattva, tamas, and rajas. Our perception of the world, our thoughts about the world, and our actions and interactions in the world are all influenced by these gunaas. We desire a life that is at least healthy and materially affluent. We now know that having excessive rajas and tamas can lead to our demise. We must interact with the outside world and with society. What ought we to do?
According to Shri Krishna, we must first comprehend the structure of our minds. After studying and examining our mental constitution, we can direct our ingrained tendencies into useful behaviours that advance society’s well-being. If we uphold our social obligations, society will make sure we lead happy and healthy lives. In the end, civilization is nothing more than an expanded representation of Ishvara. This is the Gita’s best and most useful career guidance recommendation.
Therefore, this section of the shlokas instructs us on how to assess our internal gunaas proportion. The varna system is a method of categorization and analysis. We must repeatedly remind ourselves to discard any previous ideas and interpretations of varna, which is incorrectly translated or interpreted as caste.
The Vedas did not intend for the caste system to exist as it does now. Understanding one’s varna or area of expertise through the analysis of gunaas must come from the inside out. It cannot be imposed from without by anyone.
To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.
There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There is also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.
In the next shloka Shri Krishna explains about the gunas of persons with their inherent work qualities According to the system’s original classification, in the following verses.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…