Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 58
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
स शूद्र: संशिततपा: सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रिय: । शुश्रूषुरतिथिं प्राप्त तप: संचिनुते महत्
sa śūdraḥ saṃśitatapāḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ | śuśrūṣur atithiṃ prāptaṃ tapaḥ saṃcinute mahat ||
Sinabi ni Mahādeva: “Ang Śūdra na iyon—sanay sa mahigpit na pagsasanay, tapat sa katotohanan, at may pagpipigil sa mga pandama—kapag magalang na naglilingkod sa panauhing dumating, ay nagtitipon ng dakilang gantimpala ng tapas. Para sa kanya, ang dharma na nahahayag bilang paglilingkod ay siya ring nagiging mahigpit na pag-austeridad.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical excellence is measured by conduct: truthfulness, self-mastery, and hospitality. Serving an unexpected guest is presented as a form of tapas, generating great spiritual merit.
Mahādeva is instructing about dharma, highlighting that a Śūdra who practices truth, restraint, and devoted service to an arriving guest attains great tapas through service itself.