Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
तत्रासौ निरयं प्राप्तो वर्णभ्रष्टो बहिष्कृत: | ब्रह्मलोकात् परिश्रष्ट: शूद्र: समुपजायते
tatrāsau nirayaṁ prāpto varṇabhraṣṭo bahiṣkṛtaḥ | brahmalokāt pariśraṣṭaḥ śūdraḥ samupajāyate ||
Doon, pagkahulog sa impiyerno, siya’y nagiging taong nalihis sa itinakdang kaayusang panlipunan at itinakwil. Napagkaitan ng pag-abot sa Brahmaloka, pagkaraan ay muling isinisilang bilang Śūdra. Inilalarawan ng taludtod na ito ang gayong bunga bilang kaparusahang etikal sa pagtalikod sa itinakdang tungkulin at asal, at itinatanghal ang karma at muling pagsilang bilang tagapag-ayos ng katayuang panlipunan at espirituwal.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that abandoning one’s prescribed dharma and conduct leads to spiritual and social downfall: loss of higher attainments (like Brahmaloka), suffering in hell, and an inferior rebirth. It presents karma as the mechanism linking ethical deviation to future consequences.
Maheśvara describes the post-mortem fate of a person who has become varṇabhraṣṭa and socially excluded: he falls into niraya, is cut off from Brahmaloka, and is subsequently reborn as a Śūdra.