Shloka 6
अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः
Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners
वैश्यो5धिगम्य वित्तानि ब्रह्मुकर्माणि कारयेत् । शूद्र: शुश्रूषणं कुर्यात् त्रिषु वर्णेषु नित्यश: । वन्दनायोगविधिभिर्वैतसीं वृत्तिमास्थित:
kṛpa uvāca | vaiśyo ’dhigamya vittāni brāhma-karmāṇi kārayet | śūdraḥ śuśrūṣaṇaṃ kuryāt triṣu varṇeṣu nityaśaḥ | vandanāyoga-vidhibhir vaitasīṃ vṛttim āsthitaḥ |
Kṛpa berkata: “Biarlah Vaiśya, setelah memperoleh kekayaan, mengatur agar upacara yang diperintahkan Veda dilaksanakan melalui para brāhmaṇa. Biarlah Śūdra mengamalkan khidmat yang berterusan kepada tiga varṇa yang lebih tinggi. Dengan mengambil cara hidup ‘vaitasī’—lentur dan rendah hati seperti rotan—hendaklah dia, melalui salam hormat dan ketaatan berdisiplin, sentiasa dekat dengan mereka dan berkhidmat tanpa henti.”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse outlines role-based dharma: the Vaiśya supports Vedic social-religious order by generating wealth and sponsoring Brahmin-performed rites, while the Śūdra’s dharma is steady service marked by humility, respectful conduct, and obedience toward the three higher varṇas.
Kṛpa is speaking and articulating normative social duties (varṇa-dharma), describing how different social orders should act—especially emphasizing the Vaiśya’s economic support of ritual life and the Śūdra’s continual service with ‘vaitasī’ (cane-like) humility.