Shloka 8

Vītahavya’s Attainment of Brāhmaṇya (Vītahavya–Vipratva) | वीतहव्यस्य ब्राह्मण्यप्राप्तिः

Devanagari script

ततो दशशते काले लभते शूद्रतामपि । शूद्रयोनावपि ततो बहुश: परिवर्तते,“तदनन्तर एक हजार वर्ष बीतनेपर वह चाण्डाल या पुल्कस शूद्रयोनिमें जन्म लेता है और उसमें भी अनेक जन्मोंतक चक्कर लगाता रहता है

Transliteration

tato daśaśate kāle labhate śūdratām api | śūdrayonāv api tato bahuśaḥ parivartate |

Translation

毗湿摩说：其后，待“十百年”（千年）之期过去，他才得以获得首陀罗（Śūdra）的身分。即便入了首陀罗之胎，他仍要在其中多次轮回辗转。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• दशशते: in (the period of) a thousand (ten-hundreds)
• दशशते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशशत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• काले: at the time, after (a time)
• काले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• लभते: obtains, attains
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

• शूद्रताम्: the state of being a Śūdra
• शूद्रताम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्रता
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• शूद्रयोनौ: in a Śūdra womb/birth
• शूद्रयोनौ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्रयोनि
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• अपि: even, also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• बहुशः: many times, repeatedly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुशः

• परिवर्तते: turns about, revolves, undergoes repeated change (of births)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-वृत्
• Form: Present, Indicative, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śūdra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that actions bear long-term karmic results: severe or persistent adharma can lead to prolonged suffering and repeated rebirth in lower conditions, continuing until one’s karma is exhausted and conduct is reformed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma is explaining a sequence of karmic outcomes over time: after a long period (a thousand years), the being attains birth as a Śūdra, and even then continues to cycle through many births, indicating an extended phase of transmigration tied to prior deeds.