Shloka 12
Adhyātma-krama: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman Hierarchy and Citta-Prasāda (आध्यात्मक्रमः)
आलम्भयज्ञा: क्षत्राश्न॒ हविर्यज्ञा विश: स्मृता: । परिचारयज्ञा: शूद्राश्षन जपयज्ञा द्विजातय:
ālambhayajñāḥ kṣatrāś ca haviryajñā viśaḥ smṛtāḥ | paricārayajñāḥ śūdrāś ca japayajñā dvijātayaḥ ||
ক্ষত্ৰিয়সকলৰ বাবে ‘আলম্ভ’ লক্ষণযুক্ত যজ্ঞ বিধেয়; বৈশ্যসকলৰ যজ্ঞ হৱিস্ (আহুতি) প্ৰধান বুলি স্মৃত। শূদ্ৰসকলৰ যজ্ঞ পৰিচৰ্যা আৰু সেৱা; আৰু দ্বিজসকলৰ বাবে জপযজ্ঞ বিধান কৰা হৈছে।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ‘yajña’ (sacrificial duty) broadly, mapping different forms of sacrificial practice to different social duties: martial/ālambha-related rites for Kṣatriyas, oblation-offerings for Vaiśyas, service as a sanctifying duty for Śūdras, and mantra-recitation (japa) as a key sacrificial discipline for the twice-born—emphasizing that dharma can be fulfilled through role-appropriate, ethically framed action.
In Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Vyāsa is presenting a traditional classification of sacrificial obligations, explaining how ‘yajña’ is understood in multiple modes (ritual offering, service, recitation) depending on one’s station and prescribed duties.