शमो दमस्तपः शौचं सन्तोषः क्षान्तिरार्जवम् ।
मद्भक्तिश्च दया सत्यं ब्रह्मप्रकृतयस्त्विमाः ॥
तेजो बलं धृतिः शौर्यं तितिक्षौदार्यमुद्यमः ।
स्थैर्यं ब्रह्मण्यमैश्वर्यं क्षत्रप्रकृतयस्त्विमाः ॥
आस्तिक्यं दाननिष्ठा च अदम्भो ब्रह्मसेवनम् ।
अतुष्टिरर्थोपचयैर्वैश्यप्रकृतयस्त्विमाः ॥
शुश्रूषणं द्विजगवां देवानां चाप्यमायया ।
तत्र लब्धेन सन्तोषः शूद्रप्रकृतयस्त्विमाः ॥
śamo damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣaḥ kṣāntir ārjavam |
mad-bhaktiś ca dayā satyaṁ brahma-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
tejo balaṁ dhṛtiḥ śauryaṁ titikṣaudāryam udyamaḥ |
sthairyaṁ brahmaṇyam aiśvaryaṁ kṣatra-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
āstikyaṁ dāna-niṣṭhā ca adambho brahma-sevanam |
atuṣṭir arthopacayair vaiśya-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
śuśrūṣaṇaṁ dvija-gavāṁ devānāṁ cāpy amāyayā |
tatra labdhena santoṣaḥ śūdra-prakṛtayas tv imāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.16–19)
“Equanimity, self-control, austerity, cleanliness, contentment, forbearance, straightforwardness, bhakti to me, compassion, and truthfulness—these are the characteristics of brāhmaṇas. Might, vigor, resolve, valor, tolerance, munificence, endeavor, steadiness, brahmaṇya [i.e., support of brāhmaṇas], and dominion—these are the characteristics of kṣatriyas. Faith (āstikya) [in the śāstra], charitability, non-deceitfulness [i.e., honesty], service to brāhmaṇas, and non-satiation with increases of wealth—these are the characteristics of vaiśyas. Service without deceit to the twice-born, cows, and the devas, and satisfaction with that which is attained thereby—these are the characteristics of śūdras.”