Live Session - Pragmatic Gita - Chapter 4, Shlokas 13 to 20, Vancouver, BC

The varnas created by Shri Krishna

Shri Krishna says that he created the four categories of occupations according to people’s qualities and activities.

What we need to understand is that Krishna, as he is saying, created these categories of occupations based on the people’s qualities or gunas, not based just on birth. In olden times, even the son’s of kings had to prove themselves and pass various tests before becoming eligible to rule. It was only corrupt and weak kings who eventually made it a hereditary affair.

A great example is Chandragupta Maurya. One of the most successful kings and leaders of all time. He was born of low caste and adopted by the great Chanakya and groomed to become one of the best kings that India ever produced.

That was the concept of caste system which Krishna had created. Where people became Kshatriyas or Brahmanas or Vaishyas or Shudras based on their gunas. 

If you notice, most avatars of Krishna lived the lives of Vaishyas and Kshatriyas. Buddha was born a Kshatriya and eventually went on to become the most successful preacher of all times although preaching was the domain of Brahmins.

Nobody should be proud simply because they were born Brahmins or feel inferior because they were born in lower castes. What is important is how we cultivate our gunas and how we conduct ourselves. Our ultimate success on the spiritual path and liberation is determined by our gunas and karmic activities along with faith and devotion and not based on our caste or race.

As Krishna himself has said, he is the creator of Maya however he is not impacted by Maya. He is the creator of the caste system however he is above all castes. He is also a perfect soul who is above the laws of karma and not bound by the cycles of cause and effect.

As we read in chapter 3, the sages and saints who are self realized are content in the Atman and are qualified to give up all action. Then, why do they still perform various activities like preaching, writing books, performing devotional service, etc.? The reason is that they wish to serve God, and are inspired to do works for his pleasure. 

The other reason is that they feel compassion on seeing the sufferings of the materially bound souls who are lacking God consciousness, and they work for their spiritual elevation. That is the example set by Krishna where he performed various duties and actions with the intent of helping humanity find the path to liberation.

Gautama Buddha once said, “After attaining enlightenment, you have two options—either you do nothing (Bhajananandi), or you help others attain enlightenment (Sevanandi).”

As we read in earlier chapters, doing your duties without achment and working in devotion attracts the grace of God. Shree Krishna is advising Arjun to also do the same, to perform actions as a service to God, without any attachment.

Maya is Shri Krishna’s own energy but He is not impacted by it
Action and Inaction