Shloka 5
Adhyāya 189: Japa—Inquiry into the Jāpaka, Method
Vidhi), and Fruit (Phala
ब्राह्मणानां सितो वर्ण: क्षत्रियाणां तु लोहित: । वैश्यानां पीतको वर्ण: शूद्राणामसितस्तथा,ब्राह्मणोंका रंग श्वैत, क्षत्रियोंका लाल, वैश्योंका पीला तथा शूद्रोंका काला बनाया
bharadvāja uvāca | brāhmaṇānāṁ sito varṇaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṁ tu lohitaḥ | vaiśyānāṁ pītako varṇaḥ śūdrāṇām asitas tathā ||
婆罗堕阇说道：“婆罗门被称为白色；刹帝利为红色；吠舍为黄色；首陀罗则为黑色。”
भरद्वाज उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a traditional dharma-style typology of the four varṇas using symbolic colors, reflecting an idealized social classification employed in ethical and normative discussions.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, the sage Bharadvāja is speaking and articulates a conventional description of the four social orders; the verse is expository rather than event-driven.