Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 2
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
श्रीचमस उवाच मुखबाहूरुपादेभ्य: पुरुषस्याश्रमै: सह । चत्वारो जज्ञिरे वर्णा गुणैर्विप्रादय: पृथक् ॥ २ ॥
śrī-camasa uvāca mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha catvāro jajñire varṇā guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak
圣者恰摩萨说：至上主的宇宙形体之口、臂、腿与足，依诸性（古那）的不同组合，生出以婆罗门为首的四姓；同时四种住期（阿湿罗摩）亦随之而起。
Those who are not spontaneously attracted to the devotional service of the Lord can be gradually purified by observing the varṇāśrama system of four social orders and four spiritual orders. According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, the brāhmaṇas are born of the mode of goodness, the kṣatriyas of a combination of goodness and passion, the vaiśyas of a combination of passion and ignorance and the śūdras of the mode of ignorance. Just as the four social orders are born from the face, arms, thighs and feet of the Lord’s universal form, similarly the brahmacārīs are generated from the heart of the Lord, the householder order from His loins, the vānaprasthas from His chest and the sannyāsa order from His head.
FAQs
This verse states that the four varṇas—starting with brāhmaṇas—arise from the Supreme Person’s mouth, arms, thighs, and feet, and are distinguished by guṇas (qualities).
Śrī Camasa, one of the Navayogendras, speaks as the Yogendras instruct King Nimi about dharma and the varṇāśrama system.
It encourages evaluating oneself and others by character and conduct—cultivating sattvic qualities, service, truthfulness, and devotion—rather than reducing identity to external labels.