FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.17.13

विप्रक्षत्रियविट्‍शूद्रा मुखबाहूरुपादजा: । वैराजात् पुरुषाज्जाता य आत्माचारलक्षणा: ॥ १३ ॥
vipra-kṣatriya-viṭ-śūdrā
[vipra-kshatriya-vit-shoodraa]
mukha-bāhūru-pāda-jāḥ
[mukha-baahooru-paada-jaah]
vairājāt puruṣāj jātā
[vairaajaat purushaaj jaataa]
ya ātmācāra-lakṣaṇāḥ
[ya aatmaachaara-lakshanaah]
Word-for-word
vipra — brāhmaṇas kṣatriya — kṣatriyas, the martial class viṭ — vaiśyas, mercantile men śūdrāḥ — śūdras, workers mukha — from the mouth bāhu — arms ūru — thighs pāda — and legs jāḥ — born vairājāt — from the universal form puruṣāt — from the Personality of Godhead jātāḥ — generated ye — who ātma — personal ācāra — by activities lakṣaṇāḥ — recognized.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vipra-kṣatriya-viṭ-śūdrā
vipra
brāhmaṇas
kṣatriya
kṣatriyas, the martial class
viṭ
vaiśyas, mercantile men
śūdrāḥ
śūdras, workers
mukha-bāhūru-pāda-jāḥ
mukha
from the mouth
bāhu
arms
ūru
thighs
pāda
and legs
jāḥ
born
vairājāt puruṣāj jātā
vairājāt
from the universal form
puruṣāt
from the Personality of Godhead
jātāḥ
generated
ye
who
ya ātmācāra-lakṣaṇāḥ
ātma
personal
ācāra
by activities
lakṣaṇāḥ
recognized.
In Tretā-yuga the four social orders were manifested from the universal form of the Personality of Godhead. The brāhmaṇas appeared from the Lord’s face, the kṣatriyas from the Lord’s arms, the vaiśyas from the Lord’s thighs and the śūdras from the legs of that mighty form. Each social division was recognized by its particular duties and behavior.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In Tretā-yuga, the four social orders became manifest after being created from the universal form. The brāhmaṇas appeared from the Lord’s face, the kṣatriyas from the Lord’s arms, the vaiśyas from the Lord’s thighs and the śūdras from his legs. Each social division was recognized by its particular duties. The four orders, after being created, became manifest (jātāḥ). They were recognized by the qualities of their specific duties (ātmācāra).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
In Tretā-yuga the four varṇas appeared from the universal form — brāhmaṇas from the face, kṣatriyas from arms, vaiśyas from thighs, śūdras from legs — each with appropriate duty. The body image teaches that no part is independent.
Reflection Questions
  • Which 'part' of the social body do I most naturally belong to?
  • How does this image foster respect for parts I am not?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 17