By nature these divisions are there. Varna, four varnas, and four asramas. Four varnas means social divisions, and four asrama, spiritual division

Expressions researched:
"by nature these divisions are there. Varṇa, four varṇas, and four āśramas. Four varṇas means social divisions, and four āśrama, spiritual division"

Conversations and Morning Walks

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

The varṇa and āśrama I've already explained. Just like for maintenance of the whole body there are different parts: the brain, the arm, the belly and the leg. Similarly, varṇāśrama means the head, brāhmaṇa; the arms, kṣatriya; the belly, vaiśya and the leg, śūdra. So by nature these divisions are there. Varṇa, four varṇas, and four āśramas. Four varṇas means social divisions, and four āśrama, spiritual division. So apart from spiritual division—brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa—the social division must be observed. The brain must be there, brāhmaṇa. Everything must be there. Not only the brain. The arms also required—military department, or kṣatriya department.

760822 - Conversation C - Hyderabad

The varṇa and āśrama I've already explained. Just like for maintenance of the whole body there are different parts: the brain, the arm, the belly and the leg. Similarly, varṇāśrama means the head, brāhmaṇa; the arms, kṣatriya; the belly, vaiśya and the leg, śūdra. So by nature these divisions are there. Varṇa, four varṇas, and four āśramas. Four varṇas means social divisions, and four āśrama, spiritual division. So apart from spiritual division—brahmacārī, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa—the social division must be observed. The brain must be there, brāhmaṇa. Everything must be there. Not only the brain. The arms also required—military department, or kṣatriya department. Yuddhe cāpy apalayanam (BG 18.43). The kṣatriyas are so brave, they don't go away from fighting field, battlefield. Just like Arjuna was trying to become nonviolent. Immediately Kṛṣṇa chastised him, kutas tvā kaśmalam idaṁ viṣame samupasthitam anārya-juṣṭam akīrti-karam (BG 2.2). So everything is required. It is not that everyone should become brāhmaṇa. Neither it is possible that everyone should be able to become brāhmaṇa. It is not so easy thing. But a class of brāhmaṇa must be maintained. A class of brāhmaṇa must be there as ideal to consult with them. Similarly, a class of kṣatriya must be there, a class of vaiśya must be there. This is called varṇāśrama. For the peaceful execution of material life these things are required, division. Just like in your government you have got some different ministerial department you have introduced: this minister is for this department, this minister . . . similarly, the brain department must be there. Without brain, even . . . suppose a madman, he has got his hands and legs, but it is useless because the brain is lost. So brain must be there.