Be Unaffected By Action (4.13-4.16)🔗

Now we come to the community system. Kṛṣṇa says, 'I have created the four communites as per the distribution of the three guṇas or attributes.' Guṇa means 'attribute' or 'quality' that we are born with. There are three basic guṇas: satva or purity, rajas or activity and tamas or inactivity. Listen, Kṛṣṇa uses the words, 'the distribution of the three guṇas.' He does not say, 'depending upon birth.' He says, 'Based on the guṇa, I decide his varṇa, his community' The varṇa system was four-fold. Brāhmaṇas, the scholars and priests. Kṣatriyas, the soldiers and kings. Vaiṣyas, the business community. Śudras, the workers.

Kṛṣṇa states that only the one who transcends these three guṇas can reach His state, the higher levels of consciousness. To reach Kṛṣṇa one has to be a triguṇa rahita, beyond the three guṇas. Then, one becomes a non-doer, no-attribute person.