Shloka 7
Agastya-Māhātmya and Vasiṣṭha’s Protection of the Ādityas
Khalina Daityas; Sarayū Etiology
शूद्रस्य कर्मनिष्ठायां विकर्मस्थोडपि पच्यते । ब्राह्मण: क्षत्रियो वैश्यो विकर्मस्थश्न पच्यते
śūdrasya karmanisṭhāyāṁ vikarmastho ’pi pacyate | brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyo vikarmasthaś ca na pacyate ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Même un Śūdra fermement attaché à l’œuvre qui lui est prescrite est châtié s’il tombe dans le vikarma (la conduite interdite). Mais un Brāhmaṇa, un Kṣatriya ou un Vaiśya établi dans le vikarma n’est pas pour autant “cuit” en enfer du seul fait d’être lié à des travaux de type śūdra ; ce qui tranche, c’est l’adhésion à son propre dharma ou la transgression vers le vikarma.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts steadfastness in prescribed duty (svakarma/varṇa-dharma) with vikarma (prohibited conduct), warning that transgression brings suffering; ethical accountability is framed in terms of following one’s ordained duties and avoiding forbidden actions.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he discusses consequences of vikarma and the importance of remaining established in one’s proper duties, using varṇa categories as the framework for the teaching.