Shloka 2
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
चातुर्वर्ण्य भगवता पूर्व सृष्टे स्वयम्भुवा । केन कर्मविपाकेन वैश्यो गच्छति शूद्रताम्
cāturvarṇyaṁ bhagavatā pūrvaṁ sṛṣṭe svayambhuvā | kena karmavipākena vaiśyo gacchati śūdratām ||
சுயம்பூ பகவான் முன்னரே படைத்த நான்கு வர்ணங்களில், எந்தக் கர்மவிபாகத்தால் வைசியன் சூத்ர நிலையை அடைகிறான்?
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames varṇa-status as connected to karma-vipāka (the moral maturation of actions), introducing an ethical inquiry into how conduct and its consequences can lead to decline in social-religious standing.
Maheshvara poses a doctrinal question about the fourfold order created by Svayambhū (Brahmā), specifically asking what kinds of karmic outcomes cause a Vaiśya to fall into the condition of a Śūdra, setting up an explanation in the subsequent verses.