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Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 4

अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः

Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners

चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य कर्माणि विहितानि स्वयम्भुवा । धनं यैरधिगन्तव्यं यच्च कुर्वन्‌ न दुष्पति

cāturvarṇyasya karmāṇi vihitāni svayambhuvā | dhanaṃ yair adhigantavyaṃ yac ca kurvan na duṣpati ||

कृपाचार्य म्हणाले—स्वयंभू सृष्टिकर्त्याने चातुर्वर्ण्याची कर्मे ठरवून दिली आहेत; ज्यांद्वारे धनही मिळते आणि ती कर्मे करताना कर्त्याला दोष लागत नाही.

चातुर्वर्ण्यस्यof the fourfold social order
चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootचातुर्वर्ण्य
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
कर्माणिduties/acts
कर्माणि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
विहितानिprescribed/ordained
विहितानि:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootवि-धा
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
स्वयम्भुवाby the Self-born (Brahmā)
स्वयम्भुवा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वयम्भू
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
धनम्wealth
धनम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
यैःby which (acts)
यैः:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
अधिगन्तव्यम्to be obtained
अधिगन्तव्यम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootअधि-गम्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular, तव्यत् (gerundive; to be obtained)
यत्and which (act)
यत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कुर्वन्doing/performing
कुर्वन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
दुष्यतिincurs fault/is tainted
दुष्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootदुष्
FormPresent, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

कृप उवाच

K
Kṛpa
S
Svayambhū (Brahmā)

Educational Q&A

That one should pursue wealth and worldly aims through duties sanctioned by dharma—works prescribed for one’s station in society—because such action, being ordained by the Creator, does not make the agent morally blameworthy.

Kṛpa is articulating a normative principle about conduct: the Creator has assigned specific duties to the four varṇas, and adherence to these duties can legitimately yield wealth while keeping the performer free from ethical fault.

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