FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.4.25

स्त्रीशूद्रद्विजबन्धूनां त्रयी न श्रुतिगोचरा । कर्मश्रेयसि मूढानां श्रेय एवं भवेदिह । इति भारतमाख्यानं कृपया मुनिना कृतम् ॥ २५ ॥
strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnāṁ
[stree-shoodra-dvijabandhoonaam]
trayī na śruti-gocarā
[trayee na shruti-gocharaa]
karma-śreyasi mūḍhānāṁ
[karma-shreyasi moodhaanaam]
śreya evaṁ bhaved iha
[shreya evam bhaved iha]
iti bhāratam ākhyānaṁ
[iti bhaaratam aakhyaanam]
kṛpayā muninā kṛtam
[kripayaa muninaa kritam]
strī — the woman class śūdra — the laboring class dvija-bandhūnām — of the friends of the twice-born trayī — the three sacrificial Vedas na śruti-gocarā — not allowed to be heard karma-śreyasi — in the successful execution of ritual duties mūḍhānām — of the less intelligent śreyaḥ — supreme benefit evam — thus bhavet — achieved iha — by this iti — thus thinking bhāratam — the great Mahābhārata ākhyānam — historical facts kṛpayā — out of great mercy muninā — by the muni kṛtam — is completed.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnāṁ
strī
the woman class
śūdra
the laboring class
dvija-bandhūnām
of the friends of the twice-born
trayī na śruti-gocarā
trayī
the three sacrificial Vedas
na śruti-gocarā
not allowed to be heard
karma-śreyasi mūḍhānāṁ
karma-śreyasi
in the successful execution of ritual duties
mūḍhānām
of the less intelligent
śreya evaṁ bhaved iha
śreyaḥ
supreme benefit
evam
thus
bhavet
achieved
iha
by this
iti bhāratam ākhyānaṁ
iti
thus thinking
bhāratam
the great Mahābhārata
ākhyānam
historical facts
kṛpayā muninā kṛtam
kṛpayā
out of great mercy
muninā
by the muni
kṛtam
is completed.
Out of compassion, the great sage thought it wise that this would enable men to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Thus he compiled the great historical narration called the Mahābhārata for women, laborers and friends of the twice-born.

The friends of the twice-born families are those who are born in the families of brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, or the spiritually cultured families, but who themselves are not equal to their forefathers. Such descendants are not recognized as such, for want of purificatory achievements. The purificatory activities begin even before the birth of a child, and the seed-giving reformatory process is called garbhādhāna-saṁskāra. One who has not undergone such garbhādhāna-saṁskāra, or spiritual family planning, is not accepted as being of an actual twice-born family. The garbhādhāna-saṁskāra is followed by other purificatory processes, out of which the sacred thread ceremony is one. This is performed at the time of spiritual initiation. After this particular saṁskāra, one is rightly called twice-born. One birth is calculated during the seed-giving saṁskāra, and the second birth is calculated at the time of spiritual initiation. One who has been able to undergo such important saṁskāras can be called a bona fide twice-born.

If the father and the mother do not undertake the process of spiritual family planning and simply beget children out of passion only, their children are called dvija-bandhus. These dvija-bandhus are certainly not as intelligent as the children of the regular twice-born families. The dvija-bandhus are classified with the śūdras and the woman class, who are by nature less intelligent. The śūdras and the woman class do not have to undergo any saṁskāra save and except the ceremony of marriage.

The less intelligent classes of men, namely women, śūdras and unqualified sons of the higher castes, are devoid of necessary qualifications to understand the purpose of the transcendental Vedas. For them the Mahābhārata was prepared. The purpose of the Mahābhārata is to administer the purpose of the Vedas, and therefore within this Mahābhārata the summary Veda of Bhagavad-gītā is placed. The less intelligent are more interested in stories than in philosophy, and therefore the philosophy of the Vedas in the form of the Bhagavad-gītā, is spoken by the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Vyāsadeva and Lord Kṛṣṇa are both on the transcendental plane, and therefore they collaborated in doing good to the fallen souls of this age. The Bhagavad-gītā is the essence of all Vedic knowledge. It is the first book of spiritual values, as the Upaniṣads are. The Vedānta philosophy is the subject matter for study by the spiritual graduates. Only the postgraduate spiritual student can enter into the spiritual or devotional service of the Lord. It is a great science, and the great professor is the Lord Himself in the form of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And persons who are empowered by Him can initiate others in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The women, śudras and dvija-bandhus were not qualified to hear the Vedas. Thinking what would be the best for the foolish in terms of the best sādhana, Vyāsa by his mercy wrote the Mahābhārata.
Commentary

The dvīja-bandhus do not belong to the three upper classes. Karma-śreyasi means “in the best sādhana.”

He composed the Mahābhārata for those outside the formal Vedic study circle — women, laborers, friends — so they too could see the path. Real wisdom finds a way to everyone, not only the credentialed.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I gatekeeping wisdom when I could be widening the door?
  • Whose 'Mahābhārata' am I called to write or share, in plain words for those outside the inner ring?
📝 My note

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