Shloka 27
अव्यक्त-प्रबोधः (Awakening to the Unmanifest): The 25th and 26th Principles and Eligibility for Brahma-vidyā
न चापि शूद्र: पततीति निश्चयो न चापि संस्कारमिहाहतीति वा । श्रुतिप्रवृत्त न च धर्ममाप्तुते न चास्य धर्मे प्रतिषेधनं कृतम्
na cāpi śūdraḥ patatīti niścayo na cāpi saṁskāram ihāhatīti vā | śruti-pravṛttaṁ na ca dharmam āpnute na cāsya dharme pratiṣedhanaṁ kṛtam ||
波罗舍罗说道：“这是既定之论：首陀罗并不会因对再生者所讨论的那类过失而成为‘堕落者’，此处亦不认为他有资格受持如入门礼（upanayana）等诸净化仪式。他也不具备依《吠陀》、由圣启（śruti）所发动之义务的权利——例如吠陀火祭等。然而，就一般的正行之法而言，并未对他设下禁令。”
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes between (1) Veda-authorized ritual duties (śruti-pravṛtta karma) and (2) general ethical duties (sāmānya-dharma). It states that a Śūdra is not assigned eligibility for Vedic consecrations and Vedic fire-ritual obligations, yet is not barred from general moral and social duties.
In Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Parāśara is explaining rules of conduct and eligibility across social categories. Here he clarifies how ‘falling’ (patitatva) and Vedic rites apply differently to the twice-born and to the Śūdra, while affirming the applicability of common ethical norms.