चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः | तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्
cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ . tasya kartāramapi māṃ viddhyakartāramavyayam
四种姓是我根据古纳（Guna）和业（Karma）的区分而创造的。即使我是其（这种分类行为）的创作者，你仍应知我并非真正的行动者，我是不变的。
The four castes have been created by Me through a classification of the gunas and duties. Even though I am the agent of that (act of classification), still know Me to be a non-agent and changeless.
四种姓（婆罗门、刹帝利、吠舍和首陀罗）是根据古纳（Guna）和业（Karma）的区分而划分的。婆罗门以悦性（Sattva）为主，具备自制、纯洁、宁静、正直、虔诚等品质。刹帝利以变性（Rajas）为主，具备英勇、光辉、坚定、敏捷、慷慨和统治者的本性。吠舍以变性（Rajas）为主，惰性（Tamas）次之，职责是耕作、畜牧和贸易。首陀罗以惰性（Tamas）为主，变性（Rajas）次之，职责是服务其他三种姓。人类的气质和倾向因古纳（Guna）而异。尽管主是种姓制度的创立者，但他并非真正的行动者，因为他不受轮回（Samsara）的束缚。实际上，一切皆由幻力（Maya）所为，幻力才是真正的创作者。如果四种姓各司其职，社会便能繁荣昌盛，否则将陷入混乱、分裂和冲突。
The four castes (Brahmana? Kshatriya? Vaishya and Sudra) are classified according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma. In a Brahmana? Sattva predominates. He possesses selfrestraint? purity? serenity? straightforwardness? devotion? etc. In a Kshatriya? Rajs predominates. He possesses prowess? splendour? firmness? dexterity? generosity and the nature of a ruler. In a Vaishya? Rajas predominates and Tamas is subordinate to Rajas. He does the duty of ploughing? protection of cattle and trade. In a Sudra Tamas predominates and Rajas is subordinate to Tamas. He does service to the other three castes. Human temperaments and tendencies vary according to the Gunas.Though the Lord is the author of the caste system? yet He is not the author as He is the nondoer. He is not subject to Samsara. Really Maya does everything. Maya is the real author. Society can exist in a flourishing state if the four castes do their duties properly. Otherwise there will be chaos? rupture and fighting. (Cf.XVIII.41).