Shloka 19
आरण्यकपर्वणि अध्यायः २१६ — इन्द्र-स्कन्द-संमुखता वज्रप्रहारश्च
Indra approaches Skanda; vajra strike and the arising of Viśākha
दुर्जेय: शाश्वतो धर्म: शूद्रयोनौ हि वर्तते । नत्वां शूद्रमहं मन््ये भवितव्यं हि कारणम्
durjeyaḥ śāśvato dharmaḥ śūdrayonau hi vartate | na tvāṃ śūdram ahaṃ manye bhavitavyaṃ hi kāraṇam ||
قال البراهمي: «إن هذا الدَّرْمَا الخالد عسيرُ القهر—عسيرُ الإدراك—ومع ذلك فهو قائمٌ حتى فيمن وُلِد من رحمِ الشُّودرا. غير أني لا أعدّك شُودرا. لا بدّ أن وراء مولدك في تلك الحال سببًا أعمق.»
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is portrayed as eternal and subtle, not confined to birth-status: genuine righteousness can manifest in anyone, and outward social labels do not necessarily reflect inner moral stature.
A brāhmaṇa addresses a person said to be born in a Śūdra womb, expressing wonder that profound dharma is present there, refusing to judge the person as ‘Śūdra’ in essence, and suggesting that a significant hidden cause (destiny/karma) lies behind such a birth.