Chapter 18: Moksha-sannyasa-yoga: / Verse 41

Krishna had earlier (4.13) referred to the fourfold constitution of human society based upon the varied conjunctions of the three gunas. This is necessary for the efficient conduct of the society’s multiple affairs, ranging from production of food, goods and services to public administration, education, research, medicine, treatment and the like. Not all can fit into every one of these, nor can one fit into all. So an ideal variety in tendencies, aptitudes and skills is desirable, nay inevitable.

Krishna elaborates on the idea and explains how the fourfold constitution of the society works, each group taking up one field of activity with choice and exclusiveness, complementing the predilections of others. Each field has its own importance in the society. Br¡hma¸a, kshatriya, vai¿ya and ¿£dra are the four groups. Everyone of them generally takes to the group in which he is born; but sometimes there will be exceptions too.

What matters is one’s own aptitude and nature, not in which group he is born. Remembering that all activities are equally important for the society, and all the diversities are expressions of the same Soul, there should not be any conflict.