Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 713

योग–सांख्यसमन्वयः, रथोपमा, व्यक्त–अव्यक्तविवेकः

Yoga–Sāṃkhya Synthesis, Chariot Allegory, and the Vyakta–Avyakta Distinction

Devanagari script

अदृश्यन्तार्यवर्णेषु शूद्राक्षापि तपोधना: । दानवोंके यहाँ जो व्यापारी हैं, वे सदा दूसरोंका धन ठग लेनेका ही विचार रखते हैं तथा ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय और वैश्योंमें शूद्र भी मिलकर तपोधन बन बैठे हैं

Transliteration

śakra uvāca | adṛśyantāryavarṇeṣu śūdrākṣā api tapodhanāḥ |

Translation

ಶಕ್ರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಆರ್ಯವರ್ಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಶೂದ್ರಲಕ್ಷಣ ಹೊಂದಿದ ಕೆಲವರು ತಪೋಧನರು, ಅಂದರೆ ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತರು, ಎಂದು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಹೊರಗಿನ ಜಾತಿಚಿಹ್ನದಿಂದ ಒಳಗಿನ ಗುಣ ನಿರ್ಣಯವಾಗದು; ಜನ್ಮವೋ ರೂಪವೋ ಅಲ್ಲ, ನಿಯಮ-ಶೀಲತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಆಚರಣೆಯೇ ನಿಜವಾದ ಮೌಲ್ಯವನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತದೆ.

Word by Word

• अदृश्यन्त: were seen / appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• आर्यवर्णेषु: among the Arya varṇas (higher classes)
• आर्यवर्णेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्यवर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• शूद्राः: Śūdras
• शूद्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also / even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• तपोधनाः: those whose wealth is austerity; ascetics
• तपोधनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Ārya-varṇas (Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya implied)
• Śūdra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse stresses that spiritual excellence (tapas and disciplined conduct) can be found irrespective of social designation; ethical and ascetic merit is not guaranteed by ‘noble’ birth and can arise even where society least expects it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra) is making an observation about society and dharma: within the recognized varṇas, people identified as Śūdras are also seen as tapodhanas, highlighting the mismatch between external status and inner virtue.