Shloka 4

Skanda–Mātṛgaṇa-janma: Kumārakāḥ, Kanyāgaṇāḥ, and the Vīrāṣṭaka (स्कन्द-मातृगण-सम्भवः)

Devanagari script

शूद्रयोन्यां वर्तमानो धर्मज्ञो हि भविष्यसि । मातापित्रोश्व शुश्रूषां करिष्यसि न संशय:,तू शूद्रयोनिमें रहकर धर्मज्ञ होगा और माता-पिताकी सेवा करेगा। इसमें तनिक भी संदेहके लिये स्थान नहीं है

Transliteration

śūdrayonyāṁ vartamāno dharmajño hi bhaviṣyasi | mātāpitrōś ca śuśrūṣāṁ kariṣyasi na saṁśayaḥ ||

Translation

仙人は言った。「たとえ首陀羅（Śūdra）の生にあっても、そなたは必ず法（ダルマ）を知る者となる。母と父に仕え、篤く奉養するであろう――疑いはない。」

Word by Word

शूद्रयोन्याम्in the Śūdra-womb/birth

वर्तमानःbeing/remaining (existing)

धर्मज्ञःknower of dharma

हिindeed/for

भविष्यसिyou will be/become

मातापित्रोःof (your) mother and father

चand

शुश्रूषाम्service/attendance

करिष्यसिyou will do/perform

नnot

संशयःdoubt

Speaker

व्याध उवाच

Characters & Entities

vyādha (the hunter, speaker)

mātā (mother)

pitṛ (father)

śūdra (as a social category)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True dharma is shown through conduct—especially humble, steady service to one’s parents—rather than being guaranteed or denied by birth-status. The verse affirms that ethical knowledge and righteousness can arise even while living in a socially low station.

What is happening in the narrative?

The hunter (vyādha), who is portrayed as a teacher of dharma, addresses his interlocutor and predicts his moral growth: despite being situated in a Śūdra birth, he will become dharma-wise and will certainly practice devoted service to his mother and father.