163 – Division of Duties Based on Gunas | Swami Tattwamayananda

Bhagavad Gita | The Essence of Vedanta

18th Chapter: verse 40, 41, 42, 43, 44
40th verse: “Everyone in this world is dictated by these three gunas.”
Lord Krishna divides human traits in three areas – sattvic, rajasik and tamasik.
A sattvic person is calm and serene even in difficult situations. A rajasik person is swayed by his circumstances. A tamasik person is lazy, confused and deluded.
The sattvic person has emotional equanimity. He is not elated in success and he is not devastated in failure. The rajasic person is swayed by success and failure.
Lord Krishna discusses these traits because he wants us to combine action with mental equilibrium. Understanding that everything in this world is transient – success, failure, heath and so on – we should develop an attitude that helps us remain in perfect equanimity of mind even in difficult situations.
The 41st verse onwards, Lord Krishna discusses four groups of people based on people’s innate spiritual qualities (gunas). These four groups are: (1) Brahmana (2) Kshatriya (3) Vaishya (4) Sudra.
In Hindu tradition, there were also four stages of human life and four values which guide human life.
The four stages of human life are Brahmacharya (student), Grhastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest hermitage) and Sannyasa (renunciate). Manu Smriti says that when one sees the face of his grandchild, when his face begins to wrinkle and when his hair begins to turn grey, he should retire to a life of hermitage.
The four values that guide human life are dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. Kama represents our desires, what we want to achieve. Artha represents the means to achieve those goals. Dharma represents a set of moral disciplines that guide and regulate our pursuit of artha and kama. Moksha represents the highest value in human existence and means liberation from the bondage of samsara.
42nd verse: “Who is a brahmana? Lord Krishna lists the following qualities: Shama (control of mind), dama (control of the senses), Tapah (austerities for a higher purpose), saucha (mental and physical purity), kshantih (forbearance), uprightness, jnanam (natural inclination for knowledge), vijnanam (realization), astikyam (belief in the law of karma and doctrine of reincarnation).
43rd verse: “Who is a Kshatriya? Lord Krishna lists the following qualities: ambition for power, boldness, fortitude, dexterity, not running away from battle, generosity, assertion of freedom.”
44th verse: “Who is a Vaishya? Lord Krishna lists the following duties: agriculture, cattle rearing and trade – an inclination to do business and acquire wealth.” In the midst of earning wealth, the Vaishya may engage in higher duties such as charity. These duties are based on the social circumstances that prevailed when Gita was written.
44th verse: “Who is a Sudra? Lord Krishna lists the following duties: not interested in higher values, want to do simple service.”
Lord Krishna lists these four groups to represent four levels of human evolution. We can always climb up the ladder, acquire sattvic qualities, and become a Brahmana.
Shankaracharya defines Brahmana as one who has a dominance of Sattva-guna and in whom Rajo guna is secondary.
Shankaracharya defines Kshatriya as one who has a dominance of Rajo-guna, and in whom sattva-guna is secondary.
Shankaracharya defines Vaishya as one who has a dominance of Rajo-guna, and in whom tamo-guna is secondary.
Shankaracharya defines Sudra as one who has a dominance of Tamo-guna, and in whom Rajo-guna is secondary.
Highest spiritual evolution happens when we transcend the three gunas. Such a person is called Guṇātita. One has to be fully established in sattva guna to transcend the three gunas.
In spiritual life, we are all individual travelers. Just like someone traveling in a train meets other travelers – similarly, it is an accidental meeting with our near and dear ones in this life. Our journey comes to an end when we experience and realize our true identity as the Atman.