Shloka 15
Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda: Aśuddha-Sevana, Guṇa-Dr̥ṣṭi, and Sāṃkhya–Yoga Ekārthatā
Mahābhārata 12.293
यश्न शुश्रूषते शूद्र: सततं नियतेन्द्रिय: । अतोडन्यथा मजनुष्येन्द्र स्वरर्मात् परिहीयते
yaś ca śuśrūṣate śūdraḥ satataṁ niyatendriyaḥ | ato ’nyathā manuṣyendra svarmāt parihīyate ||
ಪರಾಶರನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ನಿಗ್ರಹಿತ ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸದಾ ಸೇವೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಶೂದ್ರನು ಸ್ವರ್ಗಫಲದಿಂದ ವಂಚಿತನಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ಇಲ್ಲವಾದರೆ, ಓ ಮಾನವಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠನೇ, ಅವನು ಆ ಫಲವನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನೆ.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that disciplined, continual service (śuśrūṣā) performed with self-control is presented as a dharmic path that yields heavenly merit; neglecting this prescribed conduct results in losing that reward.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, Parāśara is explaining norms of conduct and their karmic outcomes, addressing a ‘best of men’ interlocutor and stating the consequence—attainment or loss of svarga—based on adherence to the described duty.