varṇÄnÄm ÄÅ›ramÄṇÄá¹ ca
janma-bhÅ«my-anusÄriṇīḥ
Äsan praká¹›tayo ná¹nÄá¹
nÄ«cair nÄ«cottamottamÄḥ
varṇÄnÄm - of the occupational divisions; ÄÅ›ramÄṇÄm - of the social divisions; ca - also; janma - of birth; bhÅ«mi - the situation; anusÄriṇīḥ - according to; Äsan - appeared; praká¹›tayaḥ - the natures; ná¹á¹‡Äm - of human beings; nÄ«caiḥ - by inferior background; nÄ«ca - inferior nature; uttama - by superior background; uttamÄḥ - superior natures.
The various occupational and social divisions of human society appeared according to inferior and superior natures manifest in the situation of the individual’s birth.
According to ÅšrÄ«la ViÅ›vanÄtha CakravartÄ« ṬhÄkura, the brÄhmaṇas and sannyÄsÄ«s, being situated on the head of the universal form of the Lord, are considered to be the most qualified, whereas the śūdras and gá¹›hasthas, being on the legs or loins of the Personality of Godhead, are considered to be in the lowest position. A living entity is born with a certain amount of intelligence, beauty and social opportunity, and he is therefore situated in a particular occupational and social position within the varṇÄÅ›rama system. Ultimately, such positions are external designations, but since the majority of human beings are conditioned by the external energy of the Lord, they should act according to the scientific varṇÄÅ›rama divisions until they reach the stage of jÄ«van-mukta, or liberated life.
