Shloka 4

Skanda–Mātṛgaṇa-janma: Kumārakāḥ, Kanyāgaṇāḥ, and the Vīrāṣṭaka (स्कन्द-मातृगण-सम्भवः)

Devanagari script

शूद्रयोन्यां वर्तमानो धर्मज्ञो हि भविष्यसि । मातापित्रोश्व शुश्रूषां करिष्यसि न संशय:,तू शूद्रयोनिमें रहकर धर्मज्ञ होगा और माता-पिताकी सेवा करेगा। इसमें तनिक भी संदेहके लिये स्थान नहीं है

Transliteration

śūdrayonyāṁ vartamāno dharmajño hi bhaviṣyasi | mātāpitrōś ca śuśrūṣāṁ kariṣyasi na saṁśayaḥ ||

Translation

Resi itu berkata: “Walaupun engkau berada dalam kelahiran Śūdra, engkau akan menjadi seorang yang mengetahui dharma. Engkau akan berbakti kepada ibu dan ayah dengan khidmat yang setia—tiada keraguan.”

Word by Word

शूद्रयोन्याम्in the Śūdra-womb/birth

वर्तमानःbeing/remaining (existing)

धर्मज्ञःknower of dharma

हिindeed/for

भविष्यसिyou will be/become

मातापित्रोःof (your) mother and father

चand

शुश्रूषाम्service/attendance

करिष्यसिyou will do/perform

नnot

संशयःdoubt

Speaker

व्याध उवाच

Characters & Entities

vyādha (the hunter, speaker)

mātā (mother)

pitṛ (father)

śūdra (as a social category)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

True dharma is shown through conduct—especially humble, steady service to one’s parents—rather than being guaranteed or denied by birth-status. The verse affirms that ethical knowledge and righteousness can arise even while living in a socially low station.

What is happening in the narrative?

The hunter (vyādha), who is portrayed as a teacher of dharma, addresses his interlocutor and predicts his moral growth: despite being situated in a Śūdra birth, he will become dharma-wise and will certainly practice devoted service to his mother and father.