चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥
cātur-varṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ | tasya kartāram api māṃ viddhy akartāram avyayam ||
Four varnas arise by guna and karma — not by birth. Though creator, I remain the non-doer, imperishable.
Word by word (3)
- cātur-varṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ
- — the four varnas were created by Me according to the division of gunas and action · Cātur-varṇya = the four-varna system (catur = four, varṇa = color/class). Maya = by Me. Sṛṣṭam = created (from sṛj). Guṇa-karma-vibhāga = the division/classification of gunas and actions (guṇa = the three qualities; karma = action; vibhāga = division). Critical: the four varnas were determined by guṇa and karma — not by birth. This is the Gita's own stated principle of varna.
- tasya kartāram api māṃ viddhi akartāram avyayam
- — though I am its creator, know Me as the non-doer, imperishable · Tasya kartāram = its creator (genitive: 'of that'). Api = even though, although. Māṃ viddhi = know Me. Akartāram = non-doer (a+kartā). Avyayam = imperishable, unchanging. The profound paradox: I created the system and yet I am not the doer — because the gunas do the creating through My presence, not through My ego-activity.
- guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ
- — guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ = according to the distribution of gunas and karma (guṇa = quality/nature — the three modes: sattva/rajas/tamas; karma = action/function — what one does; vibhāga = distribution/division/classification; śaḥ = according to/by-wise-division); the compound means: varna is determined by the distribution of one's inner qualities AND external actions — not by birth (jāti), which is the Gita's revolutionary social position embedded in V13
The four varnas were created by Me according to the division of gunas and actions. Though I am the creator, know Me as the non-doer, imperishable.
A modern analogy
A great composer creates a symphony. The music creates something — it moves people, organizes sound into meaning. But the composer does not become a different person through each composition. They remain unchanged. V13: Krishna creates the social structure through gunas, yet remains the akartā — the imperishable non-doer.
Take with you
- Guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ — the varnas are determined by guna-quality and karma-action, not by hereditary birth.
- This is the Gita's own refutation of birth-based caste: the text itself says guna and karma, not lineage.
- The non-doer principle (akartā) applies even to the act of creation — the divine creates through the gunas' operation.
- This verse bridges the social (varna system) and the metaphysical (divine non-doership) in a single teaching.
V13 contains two independent but related teachings: 1) The basis of the varna system: guṇa-karma-vibhāga (division by qualities and actions). The Gita makes explicit what many interpreters have obscured: varna is determined by guna-constitution and karma-type, not by birth. Brāhmaṇa = those whose gunas and karma are oriented toward knowledge/teaching. Kṣatriya = those oriented toward protection/governance. Etc. This is functional, not hereditary. 2) The non-doer principle even in creation: mayā sṛṣṭam (created by Me) AND akartāram (non-doer). Shankaracharya: the divine creates through the gunas, not through ego-activity. The creation happens by the field's own logic (Prakriti) in the presence of Puruṣa — not through the Puruṣa's 'doing.'
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
The four castes were created by Me, with the division of quality and action. Though I am the creator thereof, know Me as the non-doer and imperishable. [1]
The four castes were created by Me by the division of quality and action. Though I am the creator thereof, know Me to be the non-doer and immutable. [4]
The four divisions of society were created by me, with different qualities and duties; I, the maker of them, am imperishable and not the actor. [6]
The four-fold order of mankind I made With rank for each by doing and by kind; Though I am Author, know Me deathless, not the Author. [7]
The fourfold order of society was created by me, by distinction of quality and action. Though I am its creator, know me to be the non-doer and imperishable. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
All actions are done by the gunas of nature. The ego-deluded one thinks 'I am the doer' — this is the root of bondage.
The duties of Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras are distributed by the guṇas born of their own nature.
Paramātmā: beginningless, nirguṇa, imperishable — dwelling in the body, yet neither acts nor is tainted.
From all wombs all bodies arise — but the great Brahman is the womb and Krishna the seed-giving Father.
With mind in Me, by My grace you will cross all obstacles; but from egotism if you will not hear, you will perish.
Knowledge, action, and agent are each three-fold by guṇa-distinction — as declared in the guṇa-science. Hear them.