Shloka 4

Akṣara–Kṣara Viveka: Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda (अक्षर-क्षर विवेकः)

Devanagari script

वर्णेभ्यो हि परिभ्रष्टो न वै सम्मानमर्हति । न तु यः सत्क्रियां प्राप्प राजसं कर्म सेवते

Transliteration

varṇebhyo hi paribhraṣṭo na vai sammānam arhati | na tu yaḥ satkriyāṃ prāpya rājasaṃ karma sevate ||

Translation

Parāśara said: “One who has fallen away from the proper conduct of his social and moral station does not truly deserve honor. Yet even a person who has received due respect and good treatment should not take to rājasic (rajas) action—passionate, self-serving deeds.”

Word by Word

• वर्णेभ्यः: from the varṇas (social orders)
• वर्णेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• परिभ्रष्टः: fallen away/deviated
• परिभ्रष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिभ्रष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• वै: indeed/assuredly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• सम्मानम्: honour/respect
• सम्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्मान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्हति: deserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तु: but/however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्क्रियाम्: good conduct/virtuous practice
• सत्क्रियाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having obtained/attained
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• राजसम्: passionate/rajas-born
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सेवते: practises/engages in
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• पराशर (Parāśara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Honor is tied to steadfastness in dharmic conduct; deviation from one’s rightful discipline undermines worthiness. Even when treated well and respected, one should not respond by pursuing rājasa (passion-driven, egoistic) actions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Parāśara delivers a moral judgment about who deserves respect and warns against adopting rājasa behavior even after receiving proper honor and good treatment.