Shloka 10
Adhyāya 189: Japa—Inquiry into the Jāpaka, Method
Vidhi), and Fruit (Phala
भगुरुवाच न विशेषो<स्ति वर्णानां सर्व ब्राह्ममिदं जगत् । ब्रह्मणा पूर्वसृष्ट हि कर्मभिर्वर्णतां गतम्
bhagur uvāca na viśeṣo 'sti varṇānāṃ sarvaṃ brāhmam idaṃ jagat | brahmaṇā pūrvasṛṣṭaṃ hi karmabhir varṇatāṃ gatam ||
ଭୃଗୁ କହିଲେ— ମୁନେ! ଆଦିକାଳରେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ କୌଣସି ବିଶେଷ ଭେଦ ନଥିଲା। ବ୍ରହ୍ମାଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପ୍ରଥମେ ସୃଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇଥିବାରୁ ଏ ସମଗ୍ର ଜଗତ୍ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମ ଥିଲା; ପରେ କର୍ମର ବିଭିନ୍ନତାରୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣଭେଦ ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲା।
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
That varṇa distinctions are not primordial or inherent; the world is originally one in essence, and later social classifications arise from karma—people’s actions, roles, and conduct—rather than an absolute original separation.
In a didactic dialogue within Śānti Parva, Bhagu explains an origin account of varṇa: initially there was no differentiation, but as beings engaged in different kinds of work and behavior, society came to describe them in distinct varṇa categories.