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Re:Gita and Varnashrama Dharma

From the Bhakti List Archives

Tatachar • November 1, 1995 


This is in response to Mr. Krishna 
Kalale's discussion finding support for
traditional interpretation based on his
interpretation of the following
verse in the Gita(ch.18:41). 
Personally to me this verse and the 
following three verses of Gita (ch.18:42-44)
are nothing but a smooth and logical
continuation of the earlier verses 
chaturvarnyam...Guna Karma Vibhagashah (Ch.4:13)
and Swadharme nidhanam Shreyah (Ch.3:35)
for both of which, our Purvacharyas have a 
different interpretation than some of us.

"bramhana kshatria vishaam 
 shudranaam cha parantapa
karmaani pravibhaktani 
svabhava prabhavair gunaihi".(Ch.18:41)  

To me this verse is Lord Krishna's Bhashyam for :
 Chaturvarnyam .. guna karma vibhagashah.
Let me explain my position, whi I think so:

"svabhava prabhavair gunaihi".  

SWABHAVAH
means the basic nature
 (genes or the genotype), 
PRABHAVAIHI, 
 gives raise to or expresses or governs or determines
GUNAIHI, 
the qualities (phenotype) 

This is the basic natural law. To my knowledge, Hinduism (Gita/Purushasuktam,
etc.) is  the only religion to reveal this scientific fact. 
karmaani pravibhaktani 
KARMANI, 
works or duties (are)
PRAVIBHAKTANI,
 divided or distributed (accordingly)

The KARMAS (works) are distributed among 
Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishyas, and Shudras 
to suit their GUNAS (qualities) that arose out of
their own SWABHAVA (basic nature)

In the three verses that follow this, Krishna 
actually specifies the works(KARMAS) that 
are prescribed. 

This is a logical synthesis. Swabhava gives us
Gunas, that by itself is not work, rather it is only a
potential. We have to develop this  potential 
through the karmas that fits our (Brahmin, Sudra,
Kshatriya or Vaishya, whatever the case may be) 
potential. Our counseller,  Lord Krishna is giving work  
guide lines for us  in Ch.18:42-44.


Mr. Krishna Kalale also said:
>>SO A BHAKTA OF THE LORD WHO MAY BE BORN 
>>IN ANY COMMUNITY IS THE GREATEST AND
>>SHOULD BE TREATED AND RESPECTED AS 
>>EQUIVALENT TO A SAGE OR RISHI.

This is very true. Satvikas can be in any caste!
That is what our Purvacharyas have taught us.
Furthermore, Our Gitacharya Krishna  says
a learned Brahmin, a cow. an elephant, a dog, 
and a dog eater is seen as same by  
a Pundit (Punditah samadarshinah) (Ch.5:18) 

K. Sreekrishna