Chapter 55 - On the creation of the four principal castes

Summary: On the creation of the four principal castes, and the twofold path of Dharma.

Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesvara sprang from the Mula Prakriti^[1]. Vishnu, whose body is Sattvika is the middlemost. His month is the source of the Brahmanas who are the protectors of the Vedas; his arms the source of the Kshatriyas who are the protectors of the people, his thighs of the Vaisyas who are the protectors of wealth; and his feet of the Sudras who are the servants of the first three classes.

After creating the four castes Vishnu laid down Dharma^[2] for them. The path of this Dharma is twofold, viz, Agama and Nigama; and the world is supported by these two paths.

Agama leads to actions enjoined by the Vedas, and Nigama to the knowledge cf.the essential truths through yoga. The path of actions leads 'to the path of the true knowledge. No one can live for a moment without doing something, and, as long as true knowledge is not gained, he is subject to the result of his actions. He who gives up the prescribed duties before the attainment cf true knowledge comes to grief. On the other hand, a Sudra by following the duties prescribed for his class is elevated and becomes a Vaisya. Similarly a Vaisya by the proper performance of the duties laid down for his caste can become a Kshatriya, and a Kshatriya can, in the same way, become a Brahmana. A Brahmana, by strict adherence to his duties, gains true knowledge, and, through it, emanicipation from future births.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The Prakriti or Pradhana of the Sankhya philosophy.

[2]:

See footnote (1) at page 3.