Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 713

योग–सांख्यसमन्वयः, रथोपमा, व्यक्त–अव्यक्तविवेकः

Yoga–Sāṃkhya Synthesis, Chariot Allegory, and the Vyakta–Avyakta Distinction

Devanagari script

अदृश्यन्तार्यवर्णेषु शूद्राक्षापि तपोधना: । दानवोंके यहाँ जो व्यापारी हैं, वे सदा दूसरोंका धन ठग लेनेका ही विचार रखते हैं तथा ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय और वैश्योंमें शूद्र भी मिलकर तपोधन बन बैठे हैं

Transliteration

śakra uvāca | adṛśyantāryavarṇeṣu śūdrākṣā api tapodhanāḥ |

Translation

ଶକ୍ର କହିଲେ—ଆର୍ୟବର୍ଣ୍ଣମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶୂଦ୍ର-ଲକ୍ଷଣ ଥିବା କେତେକ ଲୋକ ତପୋଧନ, ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ତପସ୍ୟା-ସମ୍ପନ୍ନ, ଦେଖାଯାଆନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ବାହ୍ୟ ଜାତିଚିହ୍ନ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଅନ୍ତର୍ଗତ ଗୁଣ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ; ଜନ୍ମ କିମ୍ବା ରୂପ ନୁହେଁ, ସଂଯମ ଓ ଆଚରଣ ହିଁ ସତ୍ୟ ମୂଲ୍ୟ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରେ।

Word by Word

• अदृश्यन्त: were seen / appeared
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• आर्यवर्णेषु: among the Arya varṇas (higher classes)
• आर्यवर्णेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्यवर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• शूद्राः: Śūdras
• शूद्राः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अपि: also / even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• तपोधनाः: those whose wealth is austerity; ascetics
• तपोधनाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)
• Ārya-varṇas (Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya implied)
• Śūdra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse stresses that spiritual excellence (tapas and disciplined conduct) can be found irrespective of social designation; ethical and ascetic merit is not guaranteed by ‘noble’ birth and can arise even where society least expects it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra) is making an observation about society and dharma: within the recognized varṇas, people identified as Śūdras are also seen as tapodhanas, highlighting the mismatch between external status and inner virtue.