Shloka 8
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
त्रैविद्यानां या गतित्रहिाणानां ये चैवोक्ताश्चाश्रमा ब्राह्मणानाम् । एतत् कर्म ब्राह्मणस्याहुरग्र्य- मन्यत् कुर्वज्छूद्रवच्छस्त्रवध्य:
traividyānāṃ yā gatiḥ trahiṇānāṃ ye caivoktāś cāśramā brāhmaṇānām | etat karma brāhmaṇasyāhur agryam anyat kurvañ chūdravac chastravadhyaḥ ||
因陀罗说道：“对于通晓三部吠陀的婆罗门，所规定的生活道路——如祭祀等吠陀仪轨（yajña），以及为他们所教示的四住期（āśrama）——唯有此被宣告为婆罗门的最高职责。若有婆罗门违背此道，舍弃所定之戒律，当以首陀罗视之，并应受兵刃之罚。”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that a Brahmin’s highest dharma is adherence to Vedic learning and the prescribed disciplines of sacrifice and the four āśramas; deviation from this ordained conduct is portrayed as a grave fall from Brahminical status and invites severe sanction.
In Śānti Parva’s discourse on dharma, Indra speaks normatively about Brahmin conduct, defining the ideal Brahmin path (Vedic rites and āśrama duties) and warning that acting against it warrants harsh punishment, emphasizing maintenance of social-religious order.