चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥ १३ ॥
chātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛiṣhṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśhaḥ tasya kartāram api māṁ viddhyakartāram avyayam
Translation
The fourfold order was created by me according to the division of qualities (guna) and actions (karma). Though I am its author, know me to be the non-doer and unchanging.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
गुण और कर्मों के विभाग के अनुसार चार वर्णों की रचना मैंने की है। उसका कर्ता होते हुए भी मुझ अविनाशी को तुम अकर्ता ही जानो।
Commentary
A much-discussed verse. The Gita here grounds the four varnas in guṇa and karma — a person's qualities and work — not in birth. Many modern commentators read it as an argument against rigid, birth-based caste; traditional commentators have often read it differently, and the verse remains much debated.