Shloka 8
Adhyāya 189: Japa—Inquiry into the Jāpaka, Method
Vidhi), and Fruit (Phala
स्वेदमूत्रपुरीषाणि श्लेष्मा पित्त सशोणितम् | तनु: क्षरति सर्वेषां कस्माद् वर्णो विभज्यते,हम सब लोगोंके शरीरसे पसीना, मल, मूत्र, कफ, पित्त और रक्त निकलते हैं। ऐसी दशामें रंगके द्वारा वर्णोका विभाग कैसे किया जा सकता है?
svedamūtrapurīṣāṇi śleṣmā pitta saśoṇitam | tanuḥ kṣarati sarveṣāṁ kasmād varṇo vibhajyate ||
ಭರದ್ವಾಜನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ದೇಹಗಳಿಂದ ಬೆವರು, ಮೂತ್ರ, ಮಲ, ಶ್ಲೇಷ್ಮ, ಪಿತ್ತ ಮತ್ತು ರಕ್ತ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮುತ್ತವೆ; ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ಕೇವಲ ಬಣ್ಣದ ಆಧಾರದಿಂದ ವರ್ಣವಿಭಾಗ ಹೇಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯ?
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.