The answer to this question is given by lord krishna says in chapter 18..
brahmana-kshatriya-visam, shudranam ca parantapa
karmani pravibhaktani, svabhava-prabhavair gunaih
...B.G.CHAPTER 18 SLOKA 41
English translation- “The duties of Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, as also of Shudr are determined by properties that are born out of their nature.’’
Lord krishna once again clearly states that the innate property of a being or object is a measurea yardstick. So the division of mankind into four varn is only a division of the one and same action into four stages according to the motivating properties. In Krishn’s words, action is the mode of attaining to the one, inexpressible God. The conduct that takes one to God is worship, which commences in faith in the desired end. So meditation on the Supreme Being is the one true action that Krishn has-divided into four steps in his system of varn. Now, how are we to know to which property and stage we belong? This is what Krishn turns to in the following verses.
samo damas tapah shaucam ksantir arjavam eva ca
jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam
...B.G.CHAPTER 18 SLOKA 42
English translation- “Self-restraint, subduing of the senses, innocence, continence, mercy, uprightness, piety, true knowledge, and direct perception of divinity are the Brahmins province-born our of his nature.
It might be said, therefore, that the seeker is a Brahmin when all these merits are present in him and the commenced action is an integral part of his nature.
sauryam tejo dhrtir daksyam yuddhe capy apalayanam
danam ishvara-bhavas ca kshatram karma svabhava-jam
...B.G.CHAPTER 18 SLOKA 43
English translation- “Valour, majesty, dexterity, unwillingness to retreat in battle, charity, and sovereignty are the natural province of a Kshatriya.”
krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaishya-karma svabhava-jam
paricaryatmakam karma shudrasyapi svabhava-jam
...B.G.CHAPTER 18 SLOKA 44
English translation- “Farming, protection of cows (the senses) and commerce are the natural province of a Vaishya, whereas rendering service is the natural calling of a Shudr.’’
Agriculture, rearing of cattle, and commerce are duties in keeping with the nature of a Vaishya. In the ancient Vedic text, the word “go” (cow) was used to refer to the senses. So protection of “cows” means care of the senses. The senses are protected by discernment, non-attachment, restraint, and steadfastness. They
are, on the other hand, riven and rendered feeble by lust, wrath, avarice, and attachment. Spiritual acquisition is the only true wealth.This is our one true asset and once it has been earned, it stays on with us forever. Gradual amassing of this wealth in the course of our struggle with the world of matter or nature is trade. The
acquisition of knowledge, which is the most precious of all riches, is commerce. And what is farming? The body is like a piece of earth. The seeds which are sown in it sprout in the form of sanskarthe merits of action: the force that is built up by all the actions in previous lives. Arjun is told that the seed (the initial impulse) of
selfless action is never destroyed. Vaishya is the third step of the ordained action- of contemplation of the Supreme Being; and preservation of the seeds of divine meditation that are sown in this patch of earth-the body, while at the same time opposing hostile impulses, is agriculture.To protect the senses
thus, to store spiritual wealth amidst the skirmishes of nature, and to always strengthen contemplation of the ultimate essence are the province of Vaishya. According to Krishn, the omnipresent God is the final outcome
of yagya. The devout souls who partake of this fruit are emancipated from all sins and it is the seeds of this action that are sown by the meditative process. To protect this germ is true husbandry. In Vedic writings food means the Supreme Spirit. God is the only real sustenance-the food. The Soul is fully placated at the completion of the exercise of contemplation and never again knows any craving. Once the exercise has been brought to successful conclusion, the Soul is freed from the cycle of birth and death. To go ahead sowing
the seeds of this food is true husbandry.
To serve those who have attained to a higher spiritual status, revered men of accomplishment, is the duty of Shudr. Rather than meaning “base’’, Shudr means “one with deficient knowledge.” It is the seeker at the lowest stage who is a Shudr. It is but proper that this initiate worshipper should begin his quest with rendering
service. Service to men of accomplishment will in the course of time generate nobler impulses in him and he will thus gradually move up to the higher Vaishya, Kshatriya, and Brahmin stages. And ultimately he will go beyond varn (properties of nature) and become one with God. Character is a dynamic entity. There is changein an individual’s varn along with changes in his character. So, in fact, varn are the four-excellent, good, medium, and low-stages: the four steps, low and high, which seekers who tread the path of action have to climb. This is so because the action in question is only one-the ordained action. The only way to final attainment according to Krishn is that the worshipper should begin his journey in keeping with the attributes of his own nature.
sve sve karmany abhiratah, samsiddhim labhate narah
sva-karma-niratah siddhim, yatha vindati tac chrnu
...B.G.CHAPTER 18 SLOKA 45
English translation- “Commitment to his own inborn duty brings man to the ultimate accomplishment and you should listen to me on how a man achieves perfection through dedication to his innate calling.’’
By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done.
yatah pravrttir bhutanam, yena sarvam idam tatam
sva-karmana tam abhyarcya,siddhim vindati manavah...B.G.CHAPTER 18 SLOKA 46
English translation- “By adoration of that God, who has created all beings and who pervades the whole universe, through the undertaking of his natural calling, man attains to final accomplishment.’’
The seeker achieves final consummation through performance of his native duties. It is, therefore, essential that he should constantly keep his mind fixed on God, adore him, and proceed on his way step by step. Instead of making any gain, a junior student even loses whatever he has if he sits in a senior class. So the law is that one should climb step by step.Krishn says that even a partially enlightened man ought to begin from the same point: from self surrender to God.
sreyan sva-dharmo vigunah, para-dharmat sv-anusthitat
svabhava-niyatam karma, kurvan napnoti kilbisam
...B.G.CHAPTER 18 SLOKA 47
English translation- “Even though unmeritorious, one’s own native calling is superior to the office of others, for a man carrying out his natural obligation does not bring sin upon himself.”
Although inferior, one’s own obligation is better than even the well performed duties of others. A man absorbed in performing a task that is determined by his own nature does not incur sin in so far as he is not subjected to the endless cycle of “entrances” and “exits”-of birth and death. It is quite often that worshipers begin to feel disenchanted with the service they are rendering-. They look at the more accomplished seekers who are absorbed in meditation and grow envious of the honor that is accorded them because of their merits. So novices at once fall to imitating. According to Krishna, however, imitation or envy can be of no avail. The final accomplishment is only by dedication to one’s own native calling, not by its abandonment.
This stanza completes the question that what is the duty the people belonging to different castes...OM TATSAT..!!
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