ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप | कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः
brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca parantapa . karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāvaprabhavairguṇaiḥ
降敌者啊，婆罗门、刹帝利、吠舍以及首陀罗的职责，都已根据源于自性（原质）的德性（古纳）而明确划分。
O scorcher of enemies, the duties of the Brahmanas, the Ksatriyas and the Vaisyas, as also of the Sudras have been fully classified according to the gunas born from Nature.
婆罗门、刹帝利和吠舍有资格进行吠陀仪式。而第四阶层，哦，阿周那，无权进行这些仪式，因为他们的职责是服务前三个阶层。他们不被允许学习吠陀或举行祭祀。人类被组织成四个阶层，每个人的生命根据德性（古纳）的性质和成长或进化的程度，被划分为四个阶段。我现在将解释这些阶层根据德性（古纳）所承担的具体职责，通过这些职责，他们可以摆脱生死的束缚，达到自我证悟或自我知识。激性（罗阇）与惰性（塔摩）轻微混合，导致商人阶层（吠舍）的成长。激性（罗阇）与惰性（塔摩）混合是首陀罗出现的根源。人类被分为四个阶层，是基于三种德性（古纳）。职责是根据源于自性（原质）的德性（古纳）分配给每个人的。自性（Svabhava）是自在者（Isvara）的原质（Prakriti），由悦性（萨埵）、激性（罗阇）和惰性（塔摩）三种德性构成。婆罗门的本性是悦性（萨埵），因此他宁静。刹帝利的本性是激性（罗阇）和悦性（萨埵），其中悦性（萨埵）从属于激性（罗阇），激性（罗阇）占主导地位。因此他拥有主宰性。吠舍的本性是激性（罗阇）和惰性（塔摩），其中惰性（塔摩）从属于激性（罗阇）。因此他从事各种活动或商业以赚钱。首陀罗的本性是惰性（塔摩），其中激性（罗阇）从属。他迟钝。业（Karma）是源于过去思想和欲望并由其塑造的行动。德性（古纳）不能无缘无故地显现。自性（Nature）是生物中的倾向、习气（Samskara）或习性（Vasana）。这是他们在过去生中获得的，并在今生显现并产生其影响。这种自性是德性（古纳）的来源。每个人都带着自己的自性（Svabhava）而生。德性（古纳）根据人各自的自然倾向运作，这些倾向促使他履行自己的职责，作为其自然结果。职责是根据个人的德性（古纳）分配给四个阶层或种姓的。
Brahmanas? Kshatriyas and Vaisyas are alified to practise the Vedic rites. The members of the fourth class? O Arjuna? have no claim to these rites? for their profession is to serve the members of the first three. They are not allowed to study the Vedas or perform Yajnas. There is organisation of mankind into the four castes and each mans life is divided into four stages? according to the nature of the Gunas and the degree of the growth or evolution. I will now explain the specific duties of these castes according to the alities by means of which? freeing themselves from the grip of birth and death? they can attain Selfrealisation or knowledge of the Self. Passion (Rajas) slightly mingled with Tamas causes the growth of the merchant caste (the Vaisya). Rajas mixed with Tamas is the cause of the appearance of the Sudra.The one human race has been divided into four castes based upon the three alities. The duties are allotted to each according to the alities born of Nature.Nature (Svabhava) is Isvaras Prakriti (Maya) constituted of the three alities -- Sattva? Rajas and Tamas.The Brahmanas nature is Sattva. So he is serene. The nature of the Kshatriya is Rajas and Sattva. Sattva in his case is subordinate to Rajas. Rajas predominates. Therefore he possesses lordliness. The nature of the Vaisya is Rajas and Tamas. Tamas is subordinate to Rajas. So he does various sorts of activities or business to earn money. The nature of the Sudra is Tamas? with subordinate Rajas. He is dull.Karma is action arising from and fashioned by past thoughts and desires. The Gunas cannot manifest themselves without a cause. Nature is the tendency? Samskara or Vasana in living beings. This is acired by them in the past births. This manifests itself in the present birth and produces its effects. This nature is the source of the Gunas. Every man or woman is born with his or her own Svabhava (nature). The Gunas operate according to the respective natural tendencies of man which impel him to perform his own duties as their natural effects. The duties are allottted to the four classes or castes in accordance with the Gunas of individuals. (Cf.IV.13)