Shloka 31
Yoga-kṛtya (योककृत्य) — Vyāsa on Sense-Restraint, Obstacles, and Brahman-Realization
आलम्भयज्ञा: क्षत्राश्न॒ हविर्यज्ञा विश: स्मृता: । परिचारयज्ञा: शूद्रास्तु तपोयज्ञा द्विजातय:
ālam̐bhayajñāḥ kṣatrāś ca haviryajñā viśaḥ smṛtāḥ | paricārayajñāḥ śūdrās tu tapoyajñā dvijātayaḥ ||
毗耶娑说：对刹帝利而言，祭祀被称为“阿兰婆”（ālam̐bha）之祭——以武力为本的行事，如征战与施行王权。对吠舍而言，祭祀是将酥油等供物（havis）投入圣火。对首陀罗而言，祭祀是服侍与侍奉其余三姓。对“再生者”（dvija）而言，祭祀是苦行与精进——自律、克己与灵性用功。是故，各类众生皆被教以与其身分相称之祭，使其职责既维系世间秩序，亦导向内在的约束。
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ‘yajña’ (sacrificial duty) is not one uniform act for all; it is framed according to one’s social role and capacity—royal exertion for kṣatriyas, oblation-offering for vaiśyas, service for śūdras, and austerity/self-discipline for the twice-born—so that each life can be oriented toward dharma.
In Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Vyāsa is explaining differentiated duties (varna-based obligations) by redefining ‘sacrifice’ in role-specific terms, linking social function and ethical discipline to the broader ideal of sustaining order and spiritual merit.