Shloka 4

Akṣara–Kṣara Viveka: Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda (अक्षर-क्षर विवेकः)

Devanagari script

वर्णेभ्यो हि परिभ्रष्टो न वै सम्मानमर्हति । न तु यः सत्क्रियां प्राप्प राजसं कर्म सेवते

Transliteration

varṇebhyo hi paribhraṣṭo na vai sammānam arhati | na tu yaḥ satkriyāṃ prāpya rājasaṃ karma sevate ||

Translation

Parāśara nói: “Kẻ nào đã lìa bỏ nề nếp và hạnh kiểm đúng đắn theo địa vị xã hội–đạo đức của mình thì thật không xứng đáng được tôn kính. Nhưng ngay cả người đã được kính trọng và đối đãi tử tế rồi cũng chớ sa vào những hành vi rājasic (rajas)—nóng nảy, vụ lợi, tự phụng sự.”

Word by Word

• वर्णेभ्यः: from the varṇas (social orders)
• वर्णेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• परिभ्रष्टः: fallen away/deviated
• परिभ्रष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिभ्रष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• वै: indeed/assuredly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• सम्मानम्: honour/respect
• सम्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्मान
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अर्हति: deserves
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• तु: but/however
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्क्रियाम्: good conduct/virtuous practice
• सत्क्रियाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्क्रिया
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having obtained/attained
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्राप्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada

• राजसम्: passionate/rajas-born
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजस
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• सेवते: practises/engages in
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

पराशर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• पराशर (Parāśara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Honor is tied to steadfastness in dharmic conduct; deviation from one’s rightful discipline undermines worthiness. Even when treated well and respected, one should not respond by pursuing rājasa (passion-driven, egoistic) actions.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Parāśara delivers a moral judgment about who deserves respect and warns against adopting rājasa behavior even after receiving proper honor and good treatment.