Skanda–Mātṛgaṇa-janma: Kumārakāḥ, Kanyāgaṇāḥ, and the Vīrāṣṭaka (स्कन्द-मातृगण-सम्भवः)
यस्तु शूद्रो दमे सत्ये धर्मे च सततोत्थित:
yastu śūdro dame satye dharme ca satatotthitaḥ
แต่ส่วนศูทรผู้นั้น ผู้ตั้งมั่นอยู่เสมอในความสำรวมตน ความสัตย์ และธรรม—
ब्राह्मण उवाच
The verse foregrounds ethical qualities—self-control (dama), truth (satya), and dharma—as decisive markers of worth. It implies that steadfast moral conduct can define a person’s excellence beyond mere birth-based identity.
A brāhmaṇa is speaking in a didactic context, introducing a statement about a śūdra who consistently practices restraint, truthfulness, and righteousness—setting up a moral evaluation that continues in the subsequent verse(s).