वर्णानामाश्रमाणां च जन्मभूम्यनुसारिणीः ।
आसन्प्रकृतयो नॄणां नीचैर्नीचोत्तमोत्तमाः ॥
varṇānām āśramāṇāṁ ca janma-bhūmy-anusāriṇīḥ |
āsan prakṛtayo nṝṇāṁ nīcair nīcottamottamāḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.17.15)
“The lower, low, higher, and higher characteristics of the varṇas and āśramas of human beings have come about according to [their] place of birth [from the body of the Puruṣa described earlier in SB 11.17.13–14, i.e., the śūdras, vaiśyas, kṣatriyas, and brāhmaṇas are ranked from low to high in accord with their respective birth places from the feet, thighs, arms, and face of the Puruṣa, and gṛhasthas, brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas, and sannyāsīs are ranked from low to high in accord with their respective birth places from the loins, heart, chest, and head of the Puruṣa].”