Varna (caste)

Varna is a significant term in yoga. It describes the types of human motivation in the context of social activities. We consider the significance of varnas in the philosophical sense in particular, and at the same time in the sense of the maximum development of Indian philosophies.

In yoga practice, we rely on this term from the point of view of sociology and psychology.

The most famous primary source describing varnas is the Manusmṛiti. This text dates from the 2nd century BC, before the 2nd century AD.

Brahmins

adhyāpanam adhyayanaṃ yajanaṃ yājanaṃ tathā ।
dānaṃ pratigrahaṃ caiva brāhmaṇānām akalpayat ॥1.88॥

He established the Brahmins to study (adhyayanaṃ) and teach (adhyāpanam), make sacrifices for themselves (yajanaṃ) and for others (yājanaṃ), be generous and accept gifts.

Kshatriyas

prajānāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ dānam ijyādhyayanameva ca ।
viṣayeṣvaprasaktiṃ ca kṣatriyasya samādiśat ॥1.89॥

[He established] the the Kshatriyas to protect the people (prajānāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ), to be generous (dānam), to make sacrifices and study, and not to be attached to the objects of the senses (viṣayeṣvaprasaktiṃ).

Vaishyas

paśūnāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ dānam ijyādhyayanameva ca ।
vaṇikpathaṃ kusīdaṃ ca vaiśyasya kṛṣim eva ca ॥1.90॥

For Vaishyas, [he established] raising cattle (paśūnāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ), being generous (dānam), making sacrifices and learning (ijyādhyayanam), as well as trading (vaṇikpathaṃ), lending at interest (kusīdaṃ) and farming (kṛṣim).

Shudras

еkam eva tu śūdrasya prabhuḥ karma samādiśat ।
eteṣām eva varṇānāṃ śuśrūṣām anasūyayā ॥1.91॥

And he set only one task for the Shudras - wholeheartedly (śuśrūṣām) and without envy (anasūyayā) to serve (people) of other varnas (eteṣām eva varṇānāṃ).

Varna (caste)

Brahmins

Kshatriyas

Vaishyas

Shudras

Translation from Sanskrit to Ukrainian by Olga Nelina, translation from Ukrainian to English by Tatyana Prykhodko.

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