Shloka 39

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणै: क्षत्रियर्वैश्यै: शूद्रश्न कृतलक्षणै: । सेव्यते<भ्यर्च्यते चैव नित्ययुक्तै: स्वकर्मभि:,ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शुभ लक्षणसम्पन्न शूद्र--ये सभी नित्य तत्पर होकर अपने कर्माद्वारा इन्हींकी सेवा-पूजा करते हैं

Transliteration

brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyair vaiśyaiḥ śūdraś ca kṛtalakṣaṇaiḥ | sevyate 'bhyarcyate caiva nityayuktaiḥ svakarmabhiḥ ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: “By brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and by śūdras endowed with auspicious marks, He is continually served and duly worshipped—each remaining steadfast and offering that service through the faithful performance of one’s own prescribed duties.”

Word by Word

ब्राह्मणैःby Brahmins

क्षत्रियैःby Kshatriyas

वैश्यैःby Vaishyas

शूद्रैःby Shudras

चand

कृतलक्षणैःby those having (good/marked) characteristics

सेव्यतेis served

अभ्यर्च्यतेis worshipped

चand

एवindeed/just

नित्ययुक्तैःby those ever engaged/steadfast

स्वकर्मभिःby their own duties/acts

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

brāhmaṇa

kṣatriya

vaiśya

śūdra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True reverence is expressed through steadfast performance of one’s own rightful duties (svakarma/svadharma); all social groups can honor the Divine by disciplined, sincere work aligned with their role.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is explaining that people of all varṇas—Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and qualified Shudra—continually serve and worship the revered Lord/ideal through their respective prescribed actions, emphasizing duty-based devotion.