Shloka 18
Aśvatthāmā’s Buddhi-Doctrine and Nocturnal Incursion Resolve (अश्वत्थाम्नः बुद्धिविचारः सौप्तिकसंकल्पश्च)
प्रजापति: प्रजा: सृष्टवा कर्म तासु विधाय च । वर्णे वर्णे समाधत्ते होकैक॑ गुणभाग् गुणम्
prajāpatiḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā karma tāsu vidhāya ca | varṇe varṇe samādhatte hy ekaikaṁ guṇabhāg guṇam ||
Sañjaya dit : «Après avoir créé les êtres, Prajāpati (Brahmā) leur assigna aussi leurs devoirs (karma) ; et dans chaque varṇa il établit une qualité propre, distinctive.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma is not random: Prajāpati establishes both duties (karma) and characteristic qualities (guṇa) for each social order, implying that ethical life involves aligning one’s actions with the role and disposition meant to sustain harmony.
Sañjaya is explaining a principle of cosmic and social organization: after creation, the creator-god ordains duties for beings and assigns distinctive qualities to each varṇa, providing a framework for understanding conduct and responsibility.