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chaaturva{Nya}.rM mayaa sR^ishhTaM guNakarmavibhaagashaH .
Here the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, says that He has created four divisions of society according to guna (qualities) and karma (actions). The purpose of creating the four divisions is to create a society in which everyone can progress spiritually no matter what his preferences for guna or karma are. Krishna also describes the duties of division. These four divisions (brahmana or intellectual class, kshatriya or protective class, vaishya or merchant class, and shudra or labor class) need to work and live as prescribed by Krishna if they want to pass happily through this material world and go back to Godhead, the spiritual world. When people ignore His advise and follow their lower nature, then it creates useless competition between the classes. There is a mutual dependency between the classes, and each class has some power or control over others. When this power is misused disregarding Krishna's instructions, then the society falls from her spiritual level. At one early time in the Vedic history, the brahmanas were the spiritual leaders and guide for the society. They were following Krishna's instructions. Then kshatriyas became envious of brahmana's power. They assumed more power and ignored brahmanas. When kshatriyas became irreligious and powerful, then Parashurama came, and he killed almost all the kshatriyas of the world twenty one times. Then came Rama, an ideal kshatriya. After some millenniums, the kshatriyas grew too much in number and became painful burden to the society. Then Krishna Himself came, and caused the great war of Mahabharat about five thousand years ago to reduce the kshatriyas, and He re-established the principles of religion. Then grew Jainism (from Sanatana Dharma) which is mostly followed by the merchant class of Bharat. Mohandas Gandhi applied the nonviolence principle of Jainism in the freedom struggle of Bharat. He posed himself as a Hindu, but failed to apply the message of Gita in the critical time of the struggle. Bharat is still suffering from the consequences. Any way, this shows the merchant class is trying to control/ take the leadership of the society. Recent moves of the US towards creating a global economy also is an attempt to shift power/ leadership in the hands of merchant class. In Bharat now may shudras are wielding their power. Thus the four classes uselessly struggle for power and holding power and control. Quoting scriptures, Sri Prabhupada says that brahman class is the head providing spiritual intelligence, kshatriyas the arms to protect Krishna conscious people against asuras, vaishyas the belly to provide nourishment, and shudras to provide labor needed for spiritual activities and programs. He established a missionary institution (ISKCON) to create brahmanas for the society first, and then an ideal vedic society. If we care for the spiritual well being of a society, we need to stop unwanted inter-class competition, and become ideal brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, or shudras. Jai Sri Krishna! - S. Vyas
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