Shloka 61
एवं जातिषु सर्वासु सवर्ण: श्रेष्ठतां गत: । महर्षिरपि चैतद् वै मारीच: काश्यपोडब्रवीत्,इस प्रकार सभी जातियोंमें समान वर्णकी स्त्रीसे उत्पन्न हुआ पुत्र ही श्रेष्ठ होता है। मरीचि-पुत्र महर्षि काश्यपने भी यही बात बतायी है
evaṁ jātiṣu sarvāsu savarṇaḥ śreṣṭhatāṁ gataḥ | maharṣir api caitad vai mārīcaḥ kāśyapo 'bravīt ||
Thus, among all social groups, the son born of a woman of the same varṇa is regarded as the most excellent. Indeed, the great sage Kāśyapa, son of Marīci, declared this very principle as well.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a normative social-ethical claim: across communities, a child born from a spouse of the same varṇa is considered ‘best’ or most socially approved, and this view is supported by the authority of the sage Kāśyapa.
In Bhishma’s instruction (Anuśāsana Parva), he cites an earlier sage-tradition: he states a rule about socially approved marriage/lineage and reinforces it by attributing the same statement to the revered rishi Kāśyapa, son of Marīci.