Shloka 8
Adhyāya 189: Japa—Inquiry into the Jāpaka, Method
Vidhi), and Fruit (Phala
स्वेदमूत्रपुरीषाणि श्लेष्मा पित्त सशोणितम् | तनु: क्षरति सर्वेषां कस्माद् वर्णो विभज्यते
svedamūtrapurīṣāṇi śleṣmā pitta saśoṇitam | tanuḥ kṣarati sarveṣāṁ kasmād varṇo vibhajyate ||
Bharadvāja dit : « Des corps de tous s’écoulent sueur, urine, excréments, flegme, bile et sang. Si telle est la condition commune, comment diviser les varṇa par la seule couleur ? »
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bharadvāja argues that bodily substances and biological functions are common to all humans; therefore, dividing people into varṇas on the basis of external color is irrational. The verse pushes the discussion toward ethical criteria such as conduct and qualities rather than mere appearance.
In the Śānti Parva’s discourse on dharma and social order, Bharadvāja raises a pointed question challenging color-based varṇa distinctions, using shared human physiology as evidence to undermine superficial grounds for hierarchy.