Shloka 19
आरण्यकपर्वणि अध्यायः २१६ — इन्द्र-स्कन्द-संमुखता वज्रप्रहारश्च
Indra approaches Skanda; vajra strike and the arising of Viśākha
दुर्जेय: शाश्वतो धर्म: शूद्रयोनौ हि वर्तते । नत्वां शूद्रमहं मन््ये भवितव्यं हि कारणम्,आश्चर्य है कि यह सनातन धर्म, जिसके स्वरूपको समझना अत्यन्त कठिन है, शूद्रयोनिके मनुष्यमें भी विद्यमान है। मैं आपको शूद्र नहीं मानता। आपका जो शूद्रयोनिमें जन्म हो गया है, इसका कोई विशेष कारण होना चाहिये
durjeyaḥ śāśvato dharmaḥ śūdrayonau hi vartate | na tvāṃ śūdram ahaṃ manye bhavitavyaṃ hi kāraṇam ||
The brāhmaṇa said: “This eternal dharma is hard to conquer—hard to fathom—and yet it is found even in one born in a Śūdra womb. But I do not regard you as a Śūdra. There must be some deeper cause behind your being born in that condition.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is portrayed as eternal and subtle, not confined to birth-status: genuine righteousness can manifest in anyone, and outward social labels do not necessarily reflect inner moral stature.
A brāhmaṇa addresses a person said to be born in a Śūdra womb, expressing wonder that profound dharma is present there, refusing to judge the person as ‘Śūdra’ in essence, and suggesting that a significant hidden cause (destiny/karma) lies behind such a birth.