Varna Dharma (वर्णधर्मः)
परिचयः ॥ Introduction
Talking of the purpose of the Varna Dharma Manu says,
सर्वस्यास्य तु सर्गस्य गुप्त्यर्थं स महाद्युतिः । मुखबाहूरुपज्जानां पृथक्कर्माण्यकल्पयत् । । १.८७ । ।[1]
sarvasyāsya tu sargasya guptyarthaṁ sa mahādyutiḥ । mukhabāhūrupajjānāṁ pr̥thakkarmāṇyakalpayat । । 1.87 । ।
Meaning: In order to protect this universe He, the most resplendent one, assigned separate (duties and) occupations to those who sprang from his mouth, arms, thighs, and feet. [v.1.87.][2] By this are referred the four varnas whose origin is described in the Purusha Sukta as follows,
ब्राह्मणोऽस्य मुखमासीद्बाहू राजन्यः कृतः । ऊरू तदस्य यद्वैश्यः पद्भ्यां शूद्रो अजायत ॥१२॥ (Rig.10.90.12)[3]
brāhmaṇo'sya mukhamāsīdbāhū rājanyaḥ kr̥taḥ । ūrū tadasya yadvaiśyaḥ padbhyāṁ śūdro ajāyata ॥12॥ (Rig.10.90.12)
Meaning: The Brahmana was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rajanya made. His thighs became the Vaishya, from his feet the Sudra was produced.[4]
विषयविस्तारः ॥ Subject Matter
The duties prescribed to each varna are as follows
अध्यापनं अध्ययनं यजनं याजनं तथा । दानं प्रतिग्रहं चैव ब्राह्मणानां अकल्पयत् । । १.८८ । ।[1]
adhyāpanaṁ adhyayanaṁ yajanaṁ yājanaṁ tathā ।dānaṁ pratigrahaṁ caiva brāhmaṇānāṁ akalpayat । । 1.88 । ।
Meaning: To Brahmanas, he assigned teaching and studying (the Veda), sacrificing for their own benefit and for others, giving and accepting (of alms). [v.1.88.][2]
प्रजानां रक्षणं दानं इज्याध्ययनं एव च । विषयेष्वप्रसक्तिश्च क्षत्रियस्य समासतः । । १.८९ । ।[1]
prajānāṁ rakṣaṇaṁ dānaṁ ijyādhyayanaṁ eva ca ।viṣayeṣvaprasaktiśca kṣatriyasya samāsataḥ । । 1.89 । ।
Meaning: The Kshatriya, he commanded to protect the people, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), and to abstain from attaching himself to sensual pleasures; [v.1.89.][2]
पशूनां रक्षणं दानं इज्याध्ययनं एव च । वणिक्पथं कुसीदं च वैश्यस्य कृषिं एव च । । १.९० । ।[1]
paśūnāṁ rakṣaṇaṁ dānaṁ ijyādhyayanaṁ eva ca । vaṇikpathaṁ kusīdaṁ ca vaiśyasya kr̥ṣiṁ eva ca । । 1.90 । ।
Meaning: The Vaishya to tend cattle, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), to trade, to lend money, and to cultivate land. [v.1.90.][2]