Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

विप्रक्षत्रियविट्‍शूद्रा मुखबाहूरुपादजा: । वैराजात् पुरुषाज्जाता य आत्माचारलक्षणा: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

vipra-kṣatriya-viṭ-śūdrā mukha-bāhūru-pāda-jāḥ vairājāt puruṣāj jātā ya ātmācāra-lakṣaṇāḥ

Translation

In Tretā-yuga the four social orders were manifested from the universal form of the Personality of Godhead. The brāhmaṇas appeared from the Lord’s face, the kṣatriyas from the Lord’s arms, the vaiśyas from the Lord’s thighs and the śūdras from the legs of that mighty form. Each social division was recognized by its particular duties and behavior.

Synonyms

• विप्र-क्षत्रिय-विट्-शूद्राः: brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras
• विप्र-क्षत्रिय-विट्-शूद्राः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + विट् (प्रातिपदिक) + शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (समाहार/इतरेतर) — the four varṇas

• मुख-बाहु-ऊरु-पाद-जाः: born from the mouth, arms, thighs, and feet
• मुख-बाहु-ऊरु-पाद-जाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √जन् ‘to be born’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; कृदन्त ‘ज’ = ‘born from’; qualifies the four varṇas

• वैराजात्: from Vairāja (Virāṭ)
• वैराजात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; used substantively ‘from Virāṭ/Vairāja’

• पुरुषात्: from the Puruṣa
• पुरुषात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• जाताः: were born
• जाताः: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु √जन्) → जात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; used predicatively with implied ‘असन्/भवन्ति’

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; relative pronoun referring to varṇas

• आत्म-आचार-लक्षणाः: characterized by their own conduct
• आत्म-आचार-लक्षणाः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः — ‘having as their mark their own conduct’

Characters & Entities

• Virāṭ Puruṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the origin of the four varṇas?

This verse states that brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras arise from the Virāṭ Puruṣa—symbolically from His mouth, arms, thighs, and feet.

Why did Krishna explain varṇāśrama to Uddhava in Canto 11?

In the Uddhava-gītā section, Kṛṣṇa teaches dharma and right conduct so Uddhava can understand how society is harmonized by duties aligned with one’s nature and proper behavior.

Practical application of being 'recognized by conduct' in modern life?

The verse emphasizes character over labels: one should cultivate truthful, disciplined, and responsible behavior consistent with one’s duties and service to God and society.