FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.37

ब्रह्माननं क्षत्रभुजो महात्मा विडूरुरङ्‌घ्रिश्रितकृष्णवर्ण: । नानाभिधाभीज्यगणोपपन्नो द्रव्यात्मक: कर्म वितानयोग: ॥ ३७ ॥
brahmānanaṁ kṣatra-bhujo mahātmā
[brahmaananam kshatra-bhujo mahaatmaa]
viḍ ūrur aṅghri-śrita-kṛṣṇa-varṇaḥ
[vid oorur anghri-shrita-krishna-varnah]
nānābhidhābhījya-gaṇopapanno
[naanaabhidhaabheejya-ganopapanno]
dravyātmakaḥ karma vitāna-yogaḥ
[dravyaatmakah karma vitaana-yogah]
brahma — the brāhmaṇas ānanam — the face kṣatra — the kṣatriyas bhujaḥ — the arms mahātmā — the virāṭ-puruṣa viṭ — the vaiśyas ūruḥ — the thighs aṅghri-śrita — under the protection of His feet kṛṣṇa-varṇaḥ — the śūdras nānā — various abhidhā — by names abhījya-gaṇa — the demigods upapannaḥ — being overtaken dravya-ātmakaḥ — with feasible goods karma — activities vitāna-yogaḥ — performances of sacrifice.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
brahmānanaṁ kṣatra-bhujo mahātmā
brahma
the brāhmaṇas
ānanam
the face
kṣatra
the kṣatriyas
bhujaḥ
the arms
mahātmā
the virāṭ-puruṣa
viḍ ūrur aṅghri-śrita-kṛṣṇa-varṇaḥ
viṭ
the vaiśyas
ūruḥ
the thighs
aṅghri-śrita
under the protection of His feet
kṛṣṇa-varṇaḥ
the śūdras
nānā
various
nānābhidhābhījya-gaṇopapanno
abhidhā
by names
abhījya-gaṇa
the demigods
upapannaḥ
being overtaken
dravyātmakaḥ karma vitāna-yogaḥ
dravya-ātmakaḥ
with feasible goods
karma
activities
vitāna-yogaḥ
performances of sacrifice.
The virāṭ-puruṣa’s face is the brāhmaṇas, His arms are the kṣatriyas, His thighs are the vaiśyas, and the śūdras are under the protection of His feet. All the worshipable demigods are also overtaken by Him, and it is the duty of everyone to perform sacrifices with feasible goods to appease the Lord.

Monotheism is practically suggested here. Offering sacrifices to many demigods under different names is mentioned in the Vedic literatures, but the suggestion made in this verse is that all those varieties of demigods are included in the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; they are only the parts and parcels of the original whole. Similarly, the divisions of the orders of human society, namely the brāhmaṇas (the intelligent class), the kṣatriyas (the administrators), the vaiśyas (the mercantile community) and the śūdras (the laborer class), are all included in the body of the Supreme. As such, sacrifice by every one of them in terms of pleasing the Supreme by feasible goods is recommended. Generally, the sacrifice is offered with clarified butter and grains, but with the progress of time, human society has produced varieties of goods by transforming materials supplied by God’s material nature. Human society, therefore, must learn to offer sacrifices not only with clarified butter, but also with other manufactured goods in the propagation of the Lord’s glory, and that will bring about perfection in human society. The intelligent class of men, or brāhmaṇas, may give direction for such sacrifices in consultation with the previous ācāryas; the administrators may give all facilities to perform such sacrifices; the vaiśya class or mercantile community, who produce such goods, may offer them for sacrifice; and the śūdra class may offer their manual labor for the successful termination of such sacrifice. Thus by the cooperation of all classes of human beings, the sacrifice recommended in this age, namely the sacrifice of congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord, may be executed for the common welfare of all the people of the world.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Brāhmaṇas are his face. The kṣatriyas are his arms. The vaiśyas are his thighs and the śūdras are his feet. He is endowed with followers of the various devatās. The methods of sacrifice with ingredients, along with groups of the devatās with many names, are his duties.
Commentary

Brahmā means brāhmaṇa. His arms are the kṣatriyas (kṣatraḥ). Vaiśyas (viṭ) are his thighs. Those who are black, śūdras, take shelter of his feet. Methods of sacrifice, with ingredients for oblations, endowed with groups of devatās with many names such as the Rudras and Vasus, are his prescribed duties.

Every social class — intellectual, administrator, producer, worker — is a part of the Lord's body, and each is meant to offer its work as sacrifice to Him. Society works when every role serves the whole Person it constitutes.
Reflection Questions
  • What is my actual occupational role, and how am I offering it as sacrifice — or not?
  • Where in my work life am I serving self rather than the Supreme through the social body?
📝 My note

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