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Shloka 28

अध्याय ३९: विदुरेण धृतराष्ट्राय नीत्युपदेशः

Timely Counsel, Association, and Kin-Duty

ब्रह्म क्षत्रं वैश्यवर्ण च शूद्र: क्रमेणैतान्‌ न्‍्यायत: पूजयान: । तुष्टेष्वेतेष्वव्यथो दग्धपाप- स्त्यकत्वा देहं स्वर्गसुखानि भुड्न्ते,शूद्र यदि ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय और वैश्यकी क्रमसे न्यायपूर्वक सेवा करके इन्हें संतुष्ट करता है तो वह व्यथासे रहित हो पापोंसे मुक्त होकर देह-त्यागके पश्चात्‌ स्वर्गसुखका उपभोग करता है

brahma kṣatraṁ vaiśyavarṇaṁ ca śūdraḥ krameṇaitān nyāyataḥ pūjayānaḥ | tuṣṭeṣv eteṣv avyatho dagdhapāpas tyaktvā dehaṁ svargasukhāni bhuṅkte ||

ശൂദ്രൻ ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ, ക്ഷത്രിയൻ, വൈശ്യൻ—ഇവരെ ക്രമമായി നീതിപൂർവം ആദരിച്ചു സേവിച്ച് സന്തുഷ്ടരാക്കുകയാണെങ്കിൽ, അവൻ വ്യഥയില്ലാത്തവനായി പാപങ്ങൾ ദഗ്ധമായി, ദേഹം വിട്ടശേഷം സ്വർഗ്ഗസുഖങ്ങൾ അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു।

ब्रह्मthe Brahmin (class)
ब्रह्म:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
क्षत्रम्the Kshatriya (class)
क्षत्रम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
वैश्यवर्णम्the Vaishya varna
वैश्यवर्णम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवैश्यवर्ण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
शूद्रःa Shudra
शूद्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
क्रमेणin due order
क्रमेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootक्रम
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
एतान्these (persons/classes)
एतान्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
न्यायतःjustly; according to propriety
न्यायतः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन्याय
पूजयानःhonouring; serving respectfully
पूजयानः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootपूज्
Formशानच् (present active participle), Parasmaipada (active), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
तुष्टेषुwhen (they are) satisfied
तुष्टेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeAdjective
Rootतुष्ट
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
एतेषुin/among these
एतेषु:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
अव्यथःfree from distress
अव्यथः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअव्यथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
दग्धपापःwhose sins are burnt up
दग्धपापः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootदग्धपाप
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
त्यक्त्वाhaving abandoned
त्यक्त्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootत्यज्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)
देहम्the body
देहम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootदेह
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
स्वर्गसुखानिheavenly pleasures
स्वर्गसुखानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootस्वर्गसुख
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
भुञ्जतेthey enjoy
भुञ्जते:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootभुज्
FormPresent, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

विदुर उवाच

V
Vidura
B
Brāhmaṇa
K
Kṣatriya
V
Vaiśya
Ś
Śūdra
S
Svarga

Educational Q&A

Rightful, orderly, and respectful service (nyāyataḥ pūjā) toward the other varṇas is presented as dharmic conduct that purifies the doer (dagdhapāpa) and leads to well-being here (avyatha) and heavenly reward after death (svarga-sukha).

In Vidura’s counsel during the Udyoga Parva, he outlines norms of dharma and social duty. Here he states the फल (result) for a śūdra who properly honors and serves brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas: their satisfaction brings the śūdra freedom from distress, purification from sin, and attainment of svarga after death.