Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 3 - Chapter 1 - Verse 43

Sanskrit:

वैखानसा वालखिल्यौदुम्बरा: फेनपा वने ।न्यासे कुटीचक: पूर्वं बह्वोदो हंसनिष्क्रियौ ॥ ४३ ॥

ITRANS:

vaikhānasā vālakhilyau-dumbarāḥ phenapā vanenyāse kuṭīcakaḥ pūrvaṁbahvodo haṁsa-niṣkriyau

Translation:

The four divisions of retired life are the vaikhānasas, vālakhilyas, audumbaras and phenapas. The four divisions of the renounced order of life are the kuṭīcakas, bahvodas, haṁsas and niṣkriyas. All these were manifested from Brahmā.

Purport:

The varṇāśrama-dharma, or the institution of the four divisions and orders of social and spiritual life, is not a new invention of the modern age, as proposed by the less intelligent. It is an institution established by Brahmā from the beginning of the creation. This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.13): cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭam.