Shloka 90
नारद–शुक संवादः
Impermanence, Svabhāva, and Śuka’s Resolve for Yoga
ब्रह्मास्यतो ब्राह्मणा: सम्प्रसूता बाहुभ्यां वै क्षत्रिया: सम्प्रसूता: । नाभ्यां वैश्या: पादतश्चापि शूद्रा: सर्वे वर्णा नान्यथा वेदितव्या:
brahmāsyato brāhmaṇāḥ samprasūtā bāhubhyāṁ vai kṣatriyāḥ samprasūtāḥ | nābhyāṁ vaiśyāḥ pādataścāpi śūdrāḥ sarve varṇā nānyathā veditavyāḥ ||
Yājñavalkya said: From Brahmā’s mouth the Brāhmaṇas were born; from his arms the Kṣatriyas were born; from his navel the Vaiśyas, and from his feet the Śūdras. Thus all the social orders are to be understood in this way: none should be regarded as separate from Brahman, for all arise from that one sacred source.
याज़्वल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the traditional cosmological account of the four varṇas arising from Brahmā’s body and emphasizes an ethical conclusion: all varṇas share a single sacred origin and should not be regarded as essentially separate from Brahman.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Yājñavalkya is teaching about dharma and social order, explaining the origin and unity of the varṇas as part of a broader discourse on right understanding and conduct.