Duty of the sudras

Expressions researched:
"duty of the sudras" |"duty of a sudra" |"duties of a sudra" |"sudra's duty"

BG Chapters 13 - 18

It is the duty of the śūdras to offer respect to the higher class for the upkeep of the social order

BG 16.1-3, Purport: Saucam means cleanliness, not only in mind and body but in one's dealings also. It is especially meant for the mercantile people, who should not deal in the black market. Nati-manita, not expecting honor, applies to the sudras, the worker class, which are considered, according to Vedic injunctions, to be the lowest of the four classes. They should not be puffed up with unnecessary prestige or honor and should remain in their own status. It is the duty of the sudras to offer respect to the higher class for the upkeep of the social order.

SB Canto 3

When there is no such training, one simply claims that because he is born in a brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya family, he is therefore a brāhmaṇa or a kṣatriya, even though he performs the duties of a śūdra

SB 3.21.55, Purport: Bhagavad-gita describes the duties of the brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. When there is no such training, one simply claims that because he is born in a brahmana or ksatriya family, he is therefore a brahmana or a ksatriya, even though he performs the duties of a sudra. Such undue claims to being a higher-caste man make the system of scientific social orders into a caste system, completely degrading the original system. Thus society is now in chaos, and there is neither peace nor prosperity. It is clearly stated herein that unless there is the vigilance of a strong king, impious, unqualified men will claim a certain status in society, and that will make the social order perish.

SB Canto 5

One must give up the occupational duties of a śūdra, kṣatriya or vaiśya and adopt the occupational duties of a Vaiṣṇava, which include the activities of a brāhmaṇa

SB 5.26.23, Purport: Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (4.13), catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah: "According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, four divisions of human society were created by Me." Even if one is by qualification a sudra, he must try to improve his position and become a brahmana. No one should try to check a person, no matter what his present position is, from coming to the platform of a brahmana or a Vaisnava. Actually, one must come to the platform of a Vaisnava. Then he automatically becomes a brahmana. This can be done only if the Krsna consciousness movement is spread, for we are trying to elevate everyone to the platform of Vaisnava. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (18.66), sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: "Abandon all other duties and simply surrender unto Me." One must give up the occupational duties of a sudra, ksatriya or vaisya and adopt the occupational duties of a Vaisnava, which include the activities of a brahmana.

CC Adi-lila

Every householder of the higher castes should engage himself in his own occupational duty as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya, but he should not engage in the service of others, for this is the duty of a śūdra

CC Adi 10.50, Purport: It should be noted that a grhastha (householder) must not make his livelihood by begging from anyone. Every householder of the higher castes should engage himself in his own occupational duty as a brahmana, ksatriya or vaisya, but he should not engage in the service of others, for this is the duty of a sudra. One should simply accept whatever he earns by his own profession. The engagements of a brahmana are yajana, yajana, pathana, pathana, dana and pratigraha. A brahmana should be a worshiper of Visnu, and he should also instruct others how to worship Him. A ksatriya can become a landholder and earn his livelihood by levying taxes or collecting rent from tenants. A vaisya can accept agriculture or general trade as an occupational duty.

Krsna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead

The proper prescribed duty of the brāhmaṇas is the study of the Vedas; the proper duty of the royal order, the kṣatriyas, is engagement in protecting the citizens; the proper duty of the vaiśya community is agriculture, trade and protection of the cows; and the proper duty of the śūdras is service to the higher classes, namely the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas

Krsna Book, Chapter 24: "My dear father," Lord Krsna said, "there is no need to worship the demigod Indra. Everyone has to achieve the result of his own work. We can actually see that one becomes busy according to the natural tendency of his work; and according to that natural tendency, all living entities -- whether human beings or demigods -- achieve their respective results. All living entities achieve higher or lower bodies and create enemies, friends or neutral parties only because of their different kinds of work. One should be careful to discharge duties according to his natural instinct and not divert attention to the worship of various demigods. The demigods will be satisfied by proper execution of all duties, so there is no need to worship them. Let us, rather, perform our prescribed duties very nicely. Actually, one cannot be happy without executing his proper prescribed duty. One who does not, therefore, properly discharge his prescribed duties is compared to an unchaste wife. The proper prescribed duty of the brahmanas is the study of the Vedas; the proper duty of the royal order, the ksatriyas, is engagement in protecting the citizens; the proper duty of the vaisya community is agriculture, trade and protection of the cows; and the proper duty of the sudras is service to the higher classes, namely the brahmanas, ksatriyas and vaisyas. We belong to the vaisya community, and our proper duty is to farm, to trade with the agricultural produce, to protect cows or to take to banking."

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Similarly, vaiśya's duty is to see economic development of the state, and the śūdra's duty—because śūdra means fourth-class men; they have no intelligence—therefore their duty is to serve the three higher classes, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya

Lecture on SB 1.9.49 -- Mayapura, June 15, 1973: So it is the king's duty to observe his dharma, ksatriya. Ksatriya's duty is to give protection to the citizens, security of life and property, and guide them gradually to develop Krsna consciousness. This is ksatriya's duty. Brahmana's duty is to guide the ksatriyas, whether he is actually executing his duty according to sastra. That is brahmana's duty. Brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. Similarly, vaisya's duty is to see economic development of the state, and the sudra's duty -- because sudra means fourth-class men; they have no intelligence -- therefore their duty is to serve the three higher classes, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya. This is the system. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. According to quality and work -- brahmana's quality and brahmana's work; ksatriya's quality and ksatriya's work; vaisya's quality and vaisya's work.

Philosophy Discussions

So superficially it may seem that a śūdra's duty is inferior to the brāhmaṇa's duty, but if the śūdra is performing his duty in accordance to the order of the Supreme, then he is also serving

Philosophy Discussion on Immanuel Kant: Just like in our institution, I am the head man, so I may say, "You paint. You preach. You type. You do this." So the duties may be different, but by discharging duty, you are serving me; therefore you are perfect. Similarly, duties are given by the Supreme. Because I see that you are a sudra, you cannot discharge the duties of a brahmana. That is not possible. So you do your duty like this. So superficially it may seem that a sudra's duty is inferior to the brahmana's duty, but if the sudra is performing his duty in accordance to the order of the Supreme, then he is also serving. The service is the main point. The same example of our body, that the duty of eyes, seeing, it is different from the duty of the legs, walking. But walking and seeing, both of them are being utilized for the whole body; therefore all of them are useful. So there cannot be any fixed-up duty, neither is everyone able to follow the same principles. Therefore this varnasrama-dharma is very scientific. That is to be understood.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Bhagavad-gītā is there, the four divisions of human society, brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra. So each one's duty is prescribed. Brāhmaṇa's duty, kṣatriya's duty, vaiśya's duty, śūdra's duty, brahmacārī's duty, everything is there

Evening Darsana -- July 8, 1976, Washington, D.C.:

Guest (3): How does a man find out what his duty is?

Prabhupada: Duty is... The sastra is there. Bhagavad-gita is there. The Bible is there. So follow.

Guest (3): Whether a man should be a shopkeeper or a teacher or a carpenter, the Bible won't tell me that, and the Bhagavad-gita won't tell me that.

Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita is there, the four divisions of human society, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra. So each one's duty is prescribed. Brahmana's duty, ksatriya's duty, vaisya's duty, sudra's duty, brahmacari's duty, everything is there.

Guest (3): But then you said before that if I think I'm brahmacari, then I should be a brahmacari. If I become a sudra, I act as a sudra.

Prabhupada: Yes, you act as a brahmacari, do your brahmacari work, you'll be successful.

Guest (3): But how do I know that I am thinking properly?

Prabhupada: Therefore I say it is mentioned in the sastra, brahmacari guru-kule vasan danto guror hitam [SB 7.12.1]. If you want to be a lawyer, you must know the law. Without knowing the law, how you become a lawyer? Without knowing the engineering art, how you become engineer? So either you become a brahmacari, grhastha or vanaprastha, sannyasi, or anything, you must know what you are meant for. Without knowing, how you can become brahmacari?