Bhagavad Gita BG 4.13
Chapter 4, Verse 13 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥
catur-varnyam maya srishtam guna-karma-vibhagashah tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam
Meaning
The fourfold order was created by Me according to the division of guna (quality) and karma (action/work). Though I am its creator, know Me as the non-doer and imperishable.
Understanding
Krishna claims authorship of the varna system but redefines its basis completely: guna-karma-vibhaga (division by qualities and by the actions/functions that arise from those qualities) — NOT by birth. A brahmin is one with the guna-set and function of a brahmin; a kshatriya has the qualities of a warrior. Then the paradox: 'though I am its creator (kartaram), know Me as akartaram (non-doer).' The one who creates without being bound by the creation — this is the model for the liberated person.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| चातुर्वर्ण्यम् | catur-varnyam | the fourfold order (four varnas) |
| गुणकर्मविभागशः | guna-karma-vibhagashah | according to division of qualities and functions |
| कर्तारम् | kartaram | creator, doer, agent |
| अकर्तारम् | akartaram | non-doer, not the agent |
| अव्ययम् | avyayam | imperishable, undecaying |
| मया | mayā | by Me |
| सृष्टम् | sṛṣṭam | created / established / created by Me |
| तस्य | tasya | of its / of that (system I created) |
| अपि | api | even / though (I am the creator) |
| माम् | māṃ | Me (know Me as the non-doer) |
| विद्धि | viddhi | know / understand (imperative) |