Shloka 18
प्रजापति: प्रजा: सृष्टवा कर्म तासु विधाय च । वर्णे वर्णे समाधत्ते होकैक॑ गुणभाग् गुणम्,“गुणवान् प्रजापति ब्रह्माजी प्रजाओंकी सृष्टि करके उनके लिये कर्मका विधान करते हैं और प्रत्येक वर्णमें एक-एक विशेष गुणकी स्थापना कर देते हैं
prajāpatiḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā karma tāsu vidhāya ca | varṇe varṇe samādhatte hy ekaikaṁ guṇabhāg guṇam ||
Sañjaya dijo: «Habiendo creado a los seres, Prajāpati (Brahmā) también ordenó para ellos sus deberes (karma); y en cada varṇa estableció una cualidad distinta y definitoria.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma is not random: Prajāpati establishes both duties (karma) and characteristic qualities (guṇa) for each social order, implying that ethical life involves aligning one’s actions with the role and disposition meant to sustain harmony.
Sañjaya is explaining a principle of cosmic and social organization: after creation, the creator-god ordains duties for beings and assigns distinctive qualities to each varṇa, providing a framework for understanding conduct and responsibility.