# Varṇāśrama Society *On the divisions of human society* --- ### Classified by Work and Quality > So gradually this became a caste system. *Brāhmaṇa's* son became *brāhmaṇa.* Because formerly, the training was there. But when it is deviated, although a person born in the family of a *brāhmaṇa,* he is doing the work of a *śūdra.* So according to Vedic scripture, one is classified according to his work and quality, not by birth. That is the classification of *śāstra.* Just like in the *Bhagavad-gītā* the Lord says, *cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. *Guṇa* means quality, and *karma* means work. One must be qualified for the work, and he must actually work. Then he is counted classified into that, I mean to say, category. — [[spoken/1969/690327rn.haw|Śrī Rāma-Navamī, Lord Rāmacandra's Appearance Day, Hawaii, March 27, 1969]] --- ### Like a Body > So this is very scientific. How it not be scientific? It is spoken by God. *Cātur-varnyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. Required. Just like in this institution, I am *guru,* and if everyone becomes *guru,* then who will carry out the order of *guru?* There must be disciple also, who will carry out the order of *guru.* So it is not required. Just like in your body, it is not that body is made of head only, but head is required. You cannot avoid head, neither you can avoid the leg. So *śūdra* required, the *brāhmaṇa* required, the *kṣatriya* required and the *vaiśya* required. And the society should be very nicely managed. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, *cātur-varṇyaṁ.* Why does He not say one *varṇa, brāhmaṇa?* Naturally there must be division, because all men are not of the same quality. You cannot expect. — [[spoken/1975/750321r1.cal|Room Conversation with Press Representative, Calcutta, March 21, 1975]] --- ### Cooperative Society > So Kṛṣṇa says that out of many thousands of human beings, species of 400,000's of species., *manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye.*. They come to the principle of this Vedic system of *varṇāśrama-dharma.* That is the process of *siddhi.* Without coming to this process of *varṇa* and *āśrama, cātur-varṇyam,* the human life is animal life, or less than animal life. That is not accepted as human society. Therefore it is necessary that all over the world this *varṇāśrama-dharma,* according to *Bhagavad-gītā,* must be established. — [[spoken/1971/710329bg.bom|Bhagavad-gītā 7.3, Bombay, March 29, 1971]] --- ### The Brāhmaṇa Gives Direction > So the *vaiśya,* then the *kṣatriya,* and the upper man is *brāhmaṇa.* He gives the direction to the *kṣatriya.* He is ruler. — [[spoken/1975/750321r1.cal|Room Conversation with Press Representative, Calcutta, March 21, 1975]] --- ### There Must Be Ideal Brāhmaṇas > It is not possible, of course, to realize Brahman by everyone. That is not possible. But there must be an ideal institution. Unfortunately, at the present moment it is very difficult to find out where is that ideal *brāhmaṇa,* but there must be. Kṛṣṇa says. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement includes this, that *cātur-varṇyaṁ māyā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. There must be division. There may be only a few number of *brāhmaṇas,* but there must be ideal *brāhmaṇa* so that people may learn that "Here is the first-class *brāhmaṇa.* Here is the first-class man. Let us take instruction from him, not from so-called politicians." This is Indian civilization. Don't think. Formerly, even Lord Rāmacandra, who was the king. He is God Himself. Still, He used to consult learned *brāhmaṇas,* sages, saintly persons, for governmental duties. The division must be there. — [[spoken/1977/770323sb.bom|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.3.18–19, Bombay, March 23, 1977]] --- ### Saṁskāra Means Educational Process > *Asaṁskṛtāḥ kriyā-hīnā mlecchā rājanya-rūpiṇaḥ*. That is stated in the *Śrīmad... Asaṁskṛta.* The present government men, they did not go any *saṁskāra.* Formerly, the kings, they... The higher castes, never mind he is king or not, but higher caste... Therefore they claimed higher. Not claimed; actually they were. The *brāhmaṇas* and the *kṣatriyas* especially, and also the *vaiśyas,* they went the *saṁskāra,* reformatory. Just like *saṁskāra* means educational process, to elevate one. Just like we send to school, college, for elevating a child to the higher standard of life, knowledge, similarly, these *saṁskāras* also like that. One must undergo the *saṁskāras,* the reformatory method, and act in life. If I have taken the *saṁskāra* of *brāhmaṇa,* if I have accepted the sacred thread, then I must act as a *brāhmaṇa.* It is very practical. Just like if you have passed your examination as an engineer, then you must act as an engineer. Not that simply you have got the qualification of engineer, and now you are engaged in the business of a shopkeeper. No. You must act as engineer. That is qualification. — [[spoken/1974/740526sb.rom|Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.2, Rome, May 26, 1974]] --- ### Four Varṇas and Four Āśramas > The human society [is] divided into four *varṇas* and four *āśramas.* The four *varṇas* are social division, namely the student life, the householder life, the retired life and renounced life. These four divisions of social life and four divisions of spiritual life—*brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha..., brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra—*in this way there are eight divisions. These eight divisions of human society are very scientifically adopted. It is confirmed in the *Bhagavad-gītā, cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ*. This civilized division of human society is so perfect that one can gradually, from the aquatic life, can go back to home, back to Godhead. — [[spoken/1970/700705ad.sf|Ratha-yātrā Address and Press Conference, San Francisco, July 5, 1970]] --- ### Gṛhastha Life for Begetting Nice Children > *Gṛhastha* life, householder life, is meant for begetting nice children. If there are Kṛṣṇa conscious children in the society, there will be no disturbance. According to Vedic system, the population is divided into two divisions. Illegitimate sons are called *varṇa-saṅkara.* In the *Bhagavad-gītā* it is said that when the population becomes *varṇa-saṅkara,* the whole social situation becomes hellish. Actually that is the fact. So one should be very careful to beget nice children so that society, social order, political order will be calm, quiet, peaceful. — [[spoken/1968/680905in.ny|Initiation of Hṛṣīkeśa and Marriage of Satsvarūpa and Jadurāṇī, New York, September 5, 1968]] --- *8 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on varṇāśrama society*