Varna
(वर्ण)Literal Meaning
Color; class
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
Sanskrit 'varna' (color, category); the ancient fourfold classification of society — Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra — originally understood in some texts as based on aptitude and occupation rather than birth alone.
Spiritual Insight & Context
The Bhagavad Gita itself states that varna is determined by 'guna and karma' (quality and action), a verse frequently cited by reform movements against birth-based caste rigidity.