Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika)

by Ramchandra Keshav Bhagwat | 1954 | 284,137 words | ISBN-10: 8185208123 | ISBN-13: 9788185208121

This is verse 18.44 of the Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha-Dipika), the English translation of 13th-century Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita.—The Dnyaneshwari (Jnaneshwari) brings to light the deeper meaning of the Gita which represents the essence of the Vedic Religion. This is verse 44 of the chapter called Moksha-sannyasa-yoga.

Verse 18.44:Ploughing, cattle tending, trading: (these) constitute the activity of the Vaishya, born of his innate nature. What is of the nature of servitude makes up likewise the activity of a Shudra born of his innate nature. (880)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

To acquire vast profits, on the three-fold capital of land, seed and plough, to live on farming, to protect and maintain cows and other cattle, and to sell at high prices commodities purchased at cheaper rates—all these constitute the nature of the Vaishya, and this action-group comes within the orbit of the qualities of the Vaishya caste. And to serve the three twice-born castes, viz. the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas and Vaishyas is the function of the Shudra. It is not within the competence of the Shudras to go beyond the services of the twice-born. Thus are narrated to you the qualities of the four castes.

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