vipra -- brahmanas; kshatriya -- kshatriyas, the martial class; vit -- vaisyas, mercantile men; sudrah -- sudras, workers; mukha -- from the mouth; bahu -- arms; uru -- thighs; pada -- and legs; jah -- born; vairajat -- from the universal form; purushat -- from the Personality of Godhead; jatah -- generated; ye -- who; atma -- personal; acara -- by activities; lakshanah -- recognized.

In Treta-yuga the four social orders were manifested from the universal form of the Personality of Godhead. The brahmanas appeared from the Lord's face, the kshatriyas from the Lord's arms, the vaisyas from the Lord's thighs and the sudras from the legs of that mighty form. Each social division was recognized by its particular duties and behavior.