Shloka 13

Adhyātma-krama: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman Hierarchy and Citta-Prasāda (आध्यात्मक्रमः)

Devanagari script

क्षत्रिय आलम्भ- यज्ञ करनेवाले होते हैं, वैश्य हविष्यप्रधान यज्ञ करनेवाले माने गये हैं, शूद्र सेवारूप यज्ञ करनेवाले और ब्राह्मण जपयज्ञ करनेवाले होते हैं ।। परिनिषछितकार्यों हि स्वाध्यायेन द्विजो भवेत्‌ । कुर्यादन्यन्न वा कुर्यान्मैत्रो ब्राह्मण उच्यते,क्योंकि ब्राह्मण वेदोंके स्वाध्यायसे ही कृतकृत्य हो जाता है। वह और कोई कार्य करे या न करे, सब प्राणियोंके प्रति मैत्रीभाव रखनेवाला होनेके कारण ही वह ब्राह्मण कहलाता है

Transliteration

kṣatriyā ālambha-yajña-kāriṇaḥ bhavanti, vaiśyā haviṣya-pradhāna-yajña-kāriṇaḥ manyante; śūdrāḥ sevā-rūpa-yajña-kāriṇaḥ, brāhmaṇāḥ japa-yajña-kāriṇaḥ bhavanti. pariniṣṭhita-kāryo hi svādhyāyena dvijo bhavet. kuryād anyan na vā kuryān, maitraḥ brāhmaṇa ucyate.

Translation

Vyāsa said: Kṣatriyas are those whose sacrifice is expressed through decisive action and the taking up of arms; Vaiśyas are regarded as performers of sacrifices in which oblations and material offerings are primary; Śūdras perform sacrifice in the form of service; and Brāhmaṇas perform sacrifice through recitation and inward discipline (japa). For a twice-born becomes one who has fulfilled his proper task through Vedic self-study alone. Whether he undertakes other works or does not, he is called a Brāhmaṇa because he abides in friendliness and goodwill toward all living beings.

Word by Word

परिनिष्ठितकार्यःone whose duties are fully accomplished

हिindeed/for

स्वाध्यायेनby self-study (of the Veda)

द्विजःthe twice-born (Brahmin)

भवेत्would become / becomes (should be)

कुर्यात्may do / should do

अन्यत्something else

नnot

वाor

कुर्यात्may do / should do

मैत्रःfriendly / benevolent

ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin

उच्यतेis called / is said

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Kṣatriya

Vaiśya

Śūdra

Brāhmaṇa

Veda (svādhyāya)

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?

The verse reframes ‘sacrifice’ (yajña) as varṇa-appropriate discipline: action and protection for Kṣatriyas, offering-based ritual and livelihood for Vaiśyas, service for Śūdras, and mantra-recitation with Vedic self-study for Brāhmaṇas. It further defines a true Brāhmaṇa not merely by activity but by completion through svādhyāya and by universal friendliness (maitrī) toward all beings.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma after the war, Vyāsa speaks in a didactic mode, classifying the ‘yajña’ appropriate to each social duty and emphasizing that for a Brāhmaṇa, Vedic self-study and benevolence are sufficient markers of fulfilled duty, regardless of additional occupations.