Mahabharata Udyoga Parva – वैश्यं हत्वा तु वर्षे दवे ऋषभैक शताश च गाः

Shloka (श्लोक)

वैश्यं हत्वा तु वर्षे दवे ऋषभैक शताश च गाः
शूद्रं हत्वाब्दम एवैकम ऋषभैकादशाश च गाः

⚡ Quick Meaning

Killing a Vaishya yields two years, while a Shudra incurs one year of penalty.

Translations

English Translation

This verse illustrates the social and moral ramifications of killing different classes of beings—indicating that a Vaishya’s life is considered worth two years, and a Shudra, one year, reflecting an ancient understanding of social hierarchy in terms of penalties linked to actions.

हिंदी अनुवाद

यह श्लोक विभिन्न वर्गों के लोगों के हत्या के सामाजिक और नैतिक परिणामों को दर्शाता है। यह दिखाता है कि वैश्य की हत्या करने पर दो वर्ष का दंड होता है, जबकि शूद्र की हत्या करने पर एक वर्ष का दंड होता है, जो प्राचीन काल में समाज में वर्ग की विरासत को दर्शाता है।

Commentary

Context

This shloka appears in discussions about the consequences of certain actions dictated by ancient social laws.

Meaning

It indicates a belief system where the value of life is measured differently according to one’s caste, reflecting societal norms of the time.

Application

While this verse reflects a historical context, it encourages reflection on contemporary ethics, promoting the value of every human life equally.