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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.

Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›

Duty & actionChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge

4.12 4.14

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.13

Action without fruitive bondage

Īśvara · God

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।

तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥ १३ ॥

cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ

guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ

tasya kartāram api māṁ

viddhy akartāram avyayam

Translation

According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. And although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the nondoer, being unchangeable.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Kṛṣṇa Creates the Social Divisions

1
Kṛṣṇa creates society’s four divisions according to the modes of material nature and related work. Yet He remains unchanging, the nondoer.
2
Prabhupāda explains that these divisions help people develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa Himself is not bound by any division.
3
Develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which raises a person above all divisions of human society.

Key points from the purport

Krishna creates Varnashrama dharma so that people could purify themselves by regulating desires

Varnashrama system is the process of purification for one whose material desire inhibits him from directly approaching Krishna

Basis of 4 divisions — ‘guna’ and ‘karma’

Different modes of 4 Varnas

‘Brahamana’ – Mode of Goodness

‘Ksatriyas’ – Mode of passion

‘Vaisyas’ – Mode of passion and ignorance

‘Sudras’ – Mode of ignorance

To which class does Lord Krishna belong

He is the creator of the four divisions

He does not belong to any of these divisions because He is not one of the conditioned souls

Why did the Lord create this system

To elevate from animal status to human status

To systematically develop Krishna consciousness

How is a ‘Vaisnava’higher than a ‘Brahmana’

A ‘Brahmana’ by quality is supposed to know about Brahman, the Supreme Absolute Truth but most of them approach only the impersonal Brahman

One who transcends this limited knowledge and reaches the knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is a ‘Vaishnava’

Krishna consciousness includes knowledge of all different plenary expansions like Lord Rama, Nrsimha etc.

Krishna and one in Krishna consciousness are both transcendental to all divisions (community, nation or species) of society

Connected verses · 1

Texts 4.13 & 4.14

In the next verse, Krishna will further explain how He is the non-doer, or how He acts but does not act and the value of thoroughly understanding these subtle truths