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ŚB 11.17.13

Devanagari

विप्रक्षत्रियविट्‍शूद्रा मुखबाहूरुपादजा: ।
वैराजात् पुरुषाज्जाता य आत्माचारलक्षणा: ॥ १३ ॥

Text

vipra-kṣatriya-viṭ-śūdrā
mukha-bāhūru-pāda-jāḥ
vairājāt puruṣāj jātā
ya ātmācāra-lakṣaṇāḥ

Synonyms

viprabrāhmaṇas; kṣatriyakṣatriyas, the martial class; viṭvaiśyas, mercantile men; śūdrāḥśūdras, workers; mukha — from the mouth; bāhu — arms; ūru — thighs; pāda — and legs; jāḥ — born; vairājāt — from the universal form; puruṣāt — from the Personality of Godhead; jātāḥ — generated; ye — who; ātma — personal; ācāra — by activities; lakṣaṇāḥ — recognized.

Translation

In Tretā-yuga the four social orders were manifested from the universal form of the Personality of Godhead. The brāhmaṇas appeared from the Lord’s face, the kṣatriyas from the Lord’s arms, the vaiśyas from the Lord’s thighs and the śūdras from the legs of that mighty form. Each social division was recognized by its particular duties and behavior.