Shloka 23

Karma, Preta-gati, and the Continuity of Phala

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

सर्प उवाच चातुर्वर्ण्य प्रमाणं च सत्यं च ब्रह्म चैव हि | शूद्रेष्वपि च सत्यं च दानमक्रोध एव च । आनृशंस्यमहिंसा च घृणा चैव युधिछिर,सर्प बोला--युथधिष्ठिर! सत्य एवं प्रमाणभूत ब्रह्म तो चारों वर्णोके लिये हितकर है। सत्य, दान, अक्रोध, क्रूरताका अभाव, अहिंसा और दया आदि सदगुण तो शाद्रोंमें भी रहते हैं

Transliteration

sarpa uvāca cāturvarṇya-pramāṇaṃ ca satyaṃ ca brahma caiva hi | śūdreṣv api ca satyaṃ ca dānam akrodha eva ca | ānṛśaṃsyaṃ ahiṃsā ca ghṛṇā caiva yudhiṣṭhira ||

Translation

The serpent said: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, truth and the authoritative standard of the fourfold social order, and indeed Brahman itself, are for the good of all the varṇas. Even among Śūdras are found truthfulness, generosity, and freedom from anger; also compassion, non-violence, and tender-heartedness. Virtue is not confined to birth.”

Word by Word

• {'sarpa uvāca': 'the serpent said', 'cāturvarṇya': 'the fourfold social order (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, śūdra)', 'pramāṇa': 'authoritative standard

• norm', 'satya': 'truth

• truthfulness', 'brahma': 'Brahman

• Vedic sanctity', 'śūdreṣu api': 'even among Śūdras', 'dāna': 'giving

• generosity', 'akrodha': 'absence of anger

• self-control', 'ānṛśaṃsya': 'non-cruelty

• gentleness', 'ahiṃsā': 'non-violence

• non-injury', 'ghṛṇā': 'compassion

• tender concern', 'yudhiṣṭhira': 'Yudhiṣṭhira (addressed directly)'}

Speaker

सर्प उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sarpa (the serpent)
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Cāturvarṇya (four varṇas)
• Śūdra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that ethical qualities—truthfulness, generosity, self-control, kindness, and non-violence—are not restricted by birth or social class; genuine dharma can be present in every varṇa, including Śūdras.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Vana Parva dialogue, a serpent addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and challenges narrow assumptions about varṇa by pointing out that moral virtues are found across society, thereby testing and refining Yudhiṣṭhira’s understanding of dharma.