Shloka 1

Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda: Aśuddha-Sevana, Guṇa-Dr̥ṣṭi, and Sāṃkhya–Yoga Ekārthatā

Mahābhārata 12.293

Devanagari script

अपन क्ाता बछ। आर: 2 त्रिनवर्त्याधेकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: पराशरगीता--शूद्रके लिये सेवावृत्तिकी प्रधानता

Transliteration

parāśara uvāca | vṛttiḥ sakāśād varṇebhyas tribhyo hīnasya śobhanā | prītyopanītā nirdiṣṭā dharmiṣṭhān kurute sadā ||

Translation

Parāśara said: “O King, for one who is lower than the three (higher) varṇas, the most fitting livelihood is service rendered to them. When this prescribed service is undertaken with goodwill and devotion, it continually makes a person steadfast in dharma.”

Word by Word

• वृत्तिः: livelihood; occupation
• वृत्तिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सकाशात्: from; from the presence of
• सकाशात्: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकाश

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

• त्रिभ्यः: from three
• त्रिभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• हीनस्य: of one who is deprived/less (i.e., the one lacking the three)
• हीनस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• शोभना: excellent; auspicious
• शोभना: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रीत्या: with affection; gladly
• प्रीत्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• उपनीता: undertaken; adopted; brought into practice
• उपनीता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-नी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• निर्दिष्टा: prescribed; enjoined
• निर्दिष्टा: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर्-दिश्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• धर्मिष्ठान्: righteous; devoted to dharma
• धर्मिष्ठान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मिष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कुरुते: makes; renders
• कुरुते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• the King (rājan, implied addressee)
• the three varṇas (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya)
• śūdra (implied by 'hīna' relative to the three)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that a prescribed livelihood aligned with one’s social duty—here, service as a vocation—when performed willingly and with goodwill, becomes a means of cultivating steadiness in dharma rather than merely a way to survive.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, the sage Parāśara addresses a king and begins outlining duties and proper livelihoods by varṇa, emphasizing the ethical value of performing one’s assigned work with sincere intention.