Shloka 23
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
मान्धातोवाच दृश्यन्ते मानुषे लोके सर्ववर्णेषु दस्यव: । लिज्ान्तरे वर्तमाना आश्रमेषु चतुर्ष्वपि
māndhātovāca dṛśyante mānuṣe loke sarvavarṇeṣu dasyavaḥ | liṅgāntare vartamānā āśrameṣu caturṣv api ||
Wika ni Māndhātā: “Sa daigdig ng tao, nakikita ang mga magnanakaw at mga taong walang batas sa lahat ng varna (uri ng lipunan). Kahit nagtatago sila sa panlabas na anyo at mga tanda ng ibang pagkakakilanlan, gumagala pa rin sila sa loob ng apat na āśrama (mga yugto ng buhay).”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
External status—whether varṇa or āśrama—does not guarantee virtue; unethical people can hide behind respectable identities, so dharma must be judged by conduct rather than mere appearance.
Māndhātā observes that criminals and exploiters exist across society and can even masquerade within the four āśramas, raising a concern about discerning true righteousness amid social and religious forms.