Shloka 2
अध्याय २९४ — योगलक्षणम् तथा सांख्यपरिसंख्यानम्
Yoga Definition and Sāṃkhya Enumeration
नित्यं त्रयाणां वर्णानां शुश्रूषु: शूद्र उच्यते
nityaṁ trayāṇāṁ varṇānāṁ śuśrūṣuḥ śūdra ucyate
Parāśara dijo: «Se llama śūdra a quien está constantemente entregado al servicio de las tres varṇas (superiores).» En esta enseñanza sobre deber y sustento, el punto se presenta como una jerarquía de dharmas: un brāhmaṇa, obligado por la falta de medios, puede mantenerse con los deberes de un kṣatriya o de un vaiśya sin caer por ello; pero si adopta como propio el deber del śūdra, se dice que cae de inmediato.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the Śūdra’s role as continual service to the three higher varṇas, and (in the surrounding explanation) uses this to argue that a Brāhmaṇa’s ethical ‘fall’ is linked not merely to earning a living, but to adopting a different varṇa’s defining duty—especially service—as one’s own dharma.
In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Parāśara is instructing on dharma and social order. This verse occurs within a discussion of varṇa-based duties and permissible means of livelihood under necessity, distinguishing between temporary livelihood strategies and a full adoption of another varṇa’s prescribed role.