Shloka 32
Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)
अवश्यं भरणीयो हि वर्णानां शूद्र उच्यते । छत्र॑ वेष्टनमौशीरमुपानद् व्यजनानि च
avaśyaṃ bharaṇīyo hi varṇānāṃ śūdra ucyate | chatra-veṣṭanam auśīram upānad vyajanāni ca
Bhīṣma dit : « Parmi les ordres sociaux, le Śūdra est décrit comme celui qui doit nécessairement être employé au service et au soutien. Dans ce contexte, on mentionne aussi des objets tels qu’une ombrelle, un bandeau de tête, l’auśīra parfumé (vétiver), des chaussures et des éventails. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the Śūdra’s dharma in terms of necessary service/support within the varṇa system, and it lists practical items associated with such service and daily life, emphasizing social function and livelihood.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and social order; here he continues a discussion of varṇa-based duties by characterizing the Śūdra’s role and mentioning related objects of use.