3: The Four Varnas
The varnas are the four social divisions.
Basic description: Varna and its role in society
- Brahmana (the priestly class): Head
- Ksatriya (the administrative class): Arms
- Vaisya (the mercantile class): Stomach
- Sudra (the labouring class): Legs
Qualities and duties of each varna
Brahmana
- Peacefulness
- Self-control
- Purity
- Tolerance
- Honesty
- Knowledge
- Wisdom
- Religiousness
- Control of the mind
- Control of the senses
- Austerity and penance
- Cleanliness
- Satisfaction
- Forgiveness
- Simplicity
- Mercy
- Complete surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- In the mode of goodness
- Study of the Vedas
- Teaching the Vedas
- Performing sacrifices
- Give in charity
- Accepting charity
Ksatriya
- Influential in battle
- Unconquerable
- Patient
- Challenging and charitable
- Control the bodily necessities
- Forgiving
- Attached to the brahminical nature
- Always jolly and truthful
- Mixed modes of passion and goodness
- Protecting the citizens
- Performing sacrifices
- Giving in charity
- Studying the Vedas
- Upholding dharma (religious law)
Vaisya
- Always devoted to the demigods, the spiritual master and the Supreme Lord
- Endeavoring for advancement in religious principles, economic development and sense gratification (dharma, artha and kama)
- Believing in the words of the spiritual master and scripture
- Always endeavoring with expertise in earning money
- Mixed modes of passion and ignorance
- Farming
- Cow protection
- Business
- Performing sacrifice
- Giving in charity
- Studying the Vedas
Sudra
- Offering obeisances to the higher sections of society
- Always very clean
- Free from duplicity
- Serving one’s master
- Performing sacrifices without uttering mantras
- Not stealing
- Always speaking the truth and giving all protection to the cows and brahmanas
- Mode of ignorance