Shloka 6.19Unverified draft

क्षत्रं ब्रह्ममुखं चासीद्वैश्या: क्षत्रमनुव्रता: । शूद्रास्स्वधर्मनिरतास्त्रीन्वर्णानुपचारिण: ।।1.6.19।।

Meaning

The kshatriyas deferred to the brahmins, the vaishyas followed the kshatriyas, and the shudras, devoted to their own duty, served all three of the other castes.

Word-by-word (pada-artha)

WordDevanagariMeaningGrammatical role
kśatramक्शत्रम्Kshatriya-s, warrior-classAccusative singular
brahma mukhamब्रह्म मुखम्Brahmans, towardsAccusative singular
ca āsītच आसीत्only, is thereBest-effort: role not confidently classified
vaisyā:वैस्याःVyasya-s, trading-classNominative singular (masc.)
kśatram anuvratāक्शत्रम् अनुव्रताKshatriya, followingNominative singular (fem.) or vocative
śūdra:शूद्रःShuudra-s, working-classNominative singular (masc.)
sva dharma niratāस्व धर्म निरताtheir own, duty, performingNominative singular (fem.) or vocative
trīn varṇān upacariṇa:त्रीन् वर्णान् उपचरिणःother three, castes, working for themNominative singular (masc.)

Reference: 1.6.19 · Bāla Kāṇḍa