Shloka 2
अध्याय २९४ — योगलक्षणम् तथा सांख्यपरिसंख्यानम्
Yoga Definition and Sāṃkhya Enumeration
नित्यं त्रयाणां वर्णानां शुश्रूषु: शूद्र उच्यते
nityaṁ trayāṇāṁ varṇānāṁ śuśrūṣuḥ śūdra ucyate
パラーシャラは言った。「三つの（上位の）ヴァルナに常に奉仕する者をシュードラと呼ぶ。」この社会的義務と生計の教えでは、ダルマに序列が置かれる。ブラーフマナは生計に窮してやむを得ぬとき、クシャトリヤまたはヴァイシャの務めによって身を立てても堕落とはならない。だがシュードラの務めを自らの生業として採るなら、ただちに堕すると説かれる。
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the Śūdra’s role as continual service to the three higher varṇas, and (in the surrounding explanation) uses this to argue that a Brāhmaṇa’s ethical ‘fall’ is linked not merely to earning a living, but to adopting a different varṇa’s defining duty—especially service—as one’s own dharma.
In Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Parāśara is instructing on dharma and social order. This verse occurs within a discussion of varṇa-based duties and permissible means of livelihood under necessity, distinguishing between temporary livelihood strategies and a full adoption of another varṇa’s prescribed role.