Shloka 32

Āśrama-dharma: Duties of the Four Life-Stages (आश्रमधर्मः)

Devanagari script

अवश्यं भरणीयो हि वर्णानां शूद्र उच्यते । छत्र॑ वेष्टनमौशीरमुपानद्‌ व्यजनानि च

Transliteration

avaśyaṃ bharaṇīyo hi varṇānāṃ śūdra ucyate | chatra-veṣṭanam auśīram upānad vyajanāni ca

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“在诸种姓之中，首陀罗被称为必当受役使、从事服侍与供给之人。于此语境中，亦提及伞盖、头巾、芬芳的乌施罗（auśīra，香根草）、鞋履与扇等物。”

Word by Word

• अवश्यम्: necessarily, certainly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवश्य

• भरणीयः: to be supported/maintained
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भरणीय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

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

• वर्णानाम्: of the classes (varṇas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• शूद्रः: the Śūdra
• शूद्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उच्यते: is said/called
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• छत्रम्: umbrella
• छत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वेष्टनम्: wrap, covering
• वेष्टनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेष्टन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• औशीरम्: made of uśīra (vetiver)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औशीर
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपानत्: shoe, sandal
• उपानत्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपानह्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• व्यजनानि: fans (for fanning)
• व्यजनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यजन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śūdra
• varṇa
• chatra (umbrella)
• veṣṭana (head-wrap)
• auśīra (vetiver)
• upānad (footwear)
• vyajana (fan)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames the Śūdra’s dharma in terms of necessary service/support within the varṇa system, and it lists practical items associated with such service and daily life, emphasizing social function and livelihood.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and social order; here he continues a discussion of varṇa-based duties by characterizing the Śūdra’s role and mentioning related objects of use.