Shloka 9

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्या मध्ये शूद्राश् च भागशः इज्यायुधवणिज्याद्यैर् वर्तयन्तो व्यवस्थिताः

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā madhye śūdrāś ca bhāgaśaḥ ijyāyudhavaṇijyādyair vartayanto vyavasthitāḥ

Translation

The brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas—together with the śūdras, each according to their proper share—were duly established. Living by their own callings—sacrifice and sacred rites, the bearing of weapons, trade and commerce, and the like—they upheld the world’s order under the law that issues from the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्षत्रियाः: Kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वैश्याः: Vaishyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (in the midst)

• शूद्राः: Shudras
• शूद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भागशः: according to their shares/parts
• भागशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भागशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/विभागार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: by portions/according to shares)

• इज्या-आयुध-वणिज्य-आद्यैः: by (means of) worship, weapons, trade, etc.
• इज्या-आयुध-वणिज्य-आद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक) + वणिज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—समाहार-द्वन्द्व (worship, weapons, trade, etc.)

• वर्तयन्तः: engaging in / carrying on
• वर्तयन्तः: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (those) engaging/maintaining

• व्यवस्थिताः: are arranged/established
• व्यवस्थिताः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + अव + स्था (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; स्थित/नियत (established/arranged)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Description of Bhārata-varṣa’s ordered life—its peoples and their established duties.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world is stabilized when each varṇa lives by svadharma—ritual, protection, commerce, and service—under the supreme ordinance rooted in the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Align livelihood and responsibilities with integrity, service, and restraint, supporting social cohesion rather than mere self-interest.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is not autonomous; it is grounded in the Lord as the inner ruler and final support of the ordered cosmos and society.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the significance of varna-dharma in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents varna-dharma as a structured allocation of duties—ritual, protection, trade, and service—meant to uphold social stability as part of the wider cosmic order governed by the Supreme.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the functioning of society here?

Parāśara describes society as “vyavasthitāḥ” (duly arranged), where each group sustains life through its appropriate occupation, implying an interdependent system aligned with dharma.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when not named, the Purāṇic frame treats dharma and order as ultimately grounded in Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—social roles become instruments through which that higher order is preserved.