SB 11.17.13 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

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

Verse text

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

Synonyms

vipra — brāhmaṇas ; kṣatriya — kṣatriyas, the martial class ; viṭ — vaiśyas, mercantile men ; śūdrāḥ — śūdras, 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.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

In Tretā-yuga, the four social orders became manifest after being created from the universal form. 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 his legs. Each social division was recognized by its particular duties. The four orders, after being created, became manifest (jātāḥ). They were recognized by the qualities of their specific duties (ātmācāra).