Shloka 4
Brāhmaṇa-Dharma, Āśrama Eligibility, and the Primacy of Rāja-Dharma (Śānti Parva 63)
क्षात्राणि वैश्यानि च सेवमान: शौद्राणि कर्माणि च ब्राह्मण: सन् | अस्मिल्लोके निन्दितो मन्दचेता: परे च लोके निरयं प्रयाति
kṣātrāṇi vaiśyāni ca sevamānaḥ śūdrāṇi karmāṇi ca brāhmaṇaḥ san | asmiṁl loke nindito mandacetāḥ pare ca loke nirayaṁ prayāti |
Yudhiṣṭhira sprach: «Wenn ein Mann seiner Stellung nach ein Brāhmaṇa ist, jedoch die Pflichten von Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas und Śūdras übernimmt und ausübt, gilt er in dieser Welt als tadelnswert; und weil sein Urteil stumpf ist, geht er in der nächsten Welt zur Hölle. Die Lehre betont, dass die sittliche Ordnung auf der Treue zum eigenen Dharma beruht, nicht auf der opportunistischen Übernahme fremder sozialer Aufgaben.»
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches adherence to one’s prescribed dharma (here, brāhmaṇa-dharma). A brāhmaṇa who deliberately adopts the occupations of other varṇas is censured in society and accrues grave demerit leading to a painful afterlife.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira raises a pointed ethical question about social and religious duty: what becomes of a brāhmaṇa who practices the works of kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras. The statement frames the discussion in terms of worldly reputation and otherworldly consequence.