TEXT 9
yena prajanam uta atma-karma-
rupabhidhanam ca bhidam vyadhatta
narayano visvasrg atma-yonir
etac ca no varnaya vipra-varya
SYNONYMS
yenaby which; prajanamof those who are born; utaas also; atma-karmadestined engagement; rupaform and feature; abhidhanamendeavors; caalso; bhidamdifferentiation; vyadhattadispersed; narayanahthe Supreme Personality of Godhead; visvasrkthe creator of the universe; atma-yonihself-sufficient; etatall these; caalso; nahunto us; varnayadescribe; vipra-varyaO chief amongst the brahmanas.
TRANSLATION
O chief amongst the brahmanas, please also describe how Narayana, the creator of the universe and the self-sufficient Lord, has differently created the natures, activities, forms, features and names of the different living creatures.
PURPORT
Every living being is under the plan of his natural inclinations in terms of the modes of material nature. His work is manifested in terms of the nature of the three modes, his form and bodily features are designed according to his work, and his name is designated according to his bodily features. For example, the higher classes of men are white (sukla), and the lower classes of men are black. This division of white and black is in terms of ones white and black duties of life. Pious acts lead one to take birth in a good and highly placed family, to become rich, to become learned, and to acquire beautiful bodily features. Impious acts lead one to become poor by parentage, to be always in want, to become a fool or illiterate and to acquire ugly bodily features. Vidura requested Maitreya to explain these differences between all the living creatures made by Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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