Shloka 186
वैश्यांश्वाप्यूरूतो राजन् शूद्रान् वै पादतस्तथा । इन कमलनयन भगवान्से बढ़कर दूसरा कोई तत्त्व न हुआ है
vaiśyāṁś cāpy ūrutaḥ rājan śūdrān vai pādataḥ tathā |
Disse Bhīṣma: «Ó rei, de Suas coxas Ele fez surgir os Vaiśyas, e igualmente de Seus pés os Śūdras. Assim, o Senhor supremo, de olhos de lótus, manifestou as quatro ordens a partir do próprio corpo: os Brāhmaṇas da boca, os Kṣatriyas dos dois braços, os Vaiśyas das coxas e os Śūdras dos pés.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents the four varṇas as originating from a single divine source, framing social duties as parts of an overarching cosmic dharma; it encourages respect for the ethical order and role-based responsibilities within society.
Bhīṣma is instructing the king on dharma and the structure of society, explaining a traditional cosmological account in which the Lord manifests Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras from different parts of His body.