Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56
Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline
भृगुरुवाच । न विशेषोऽस्ति वर्णानां सर्वं ब्रह्ममयं जगत् । ब्रह्मणा पूर्वसृष्टं हि कर्मणा वर्णतां गतम् ॥ ५६ ॥
bhṛguruvāca | na viśeṣo'sti varṇānāṃ sarvaṃ brahmamayaṃ jagat | brahmaṇā pūrvasṛṣṭaṃ hi karmaṇā varṇatāṃ gatam || 56 ||
Bhṛgu sprach: Es gibt keinen wesensmäßigen Unterschied zwischen den Varṇas, denn diese ganze Welt ist von Brahman durchdrungen. Wahrlich, was Brahmā zuerst erschuf, wird nur durch das Handeln, durch Karma, als Varṇa eingestuft.
Bhṛgu
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It asserts a Brahman-centered vision: all beings and the world are essentially Brahman, so varṇa is not an absolute spiritual hierarchy; distinctions arise at the level of conduct (karma), while the Self is non-different.
By grounding identity in Brahman rather than birth-status, it supports the bhakti principle that sincere devotion and righteous conduct are decisive; spiritual worth is measured by lived dharma and inner realization, not mere social label.
It points to dharma-vicāra (ethical discernment) rather than a technical Vedāṅga: varṇa is to be understood through karma (one’s actual duties and qualities), guiding practical social-religious conduct and ritual eligibility by behavior.