Having established that the three modes of nature (gunas) govern everything in the material world, Krishna applies this framework to human society. He names the four natural divisions of society: brāhmaṇa (intellectuals/priests), kṣatriya (administrators/warriors), vaiśya (merchants/farmers), and śūdra (laborers/artisans). He explicitly states that their respective duties and actions (karmāṇi) are divided and assigned strictly according to the qualities born of their own inner nature (svabhāva-prabhavair guṇaiḥ), not by birthright.