वर्णाश्रमविकल्पं च प्रतिलोमानुलोमजम् । द्रव्यदेशवय:कालान् स्वर्गं नरकमेव च ॥ २ ॥
varṇāśrama-vikalpaṁ ca pratilomānulomajam dravya-deśa-vayaḥ-kālān svargaṁ narakam eva ca
- varṇa-āśrama
- of the varṇāśrama system
- vikalpam
- the variety of superior and inferior positions created by piety and sin
- ca
- and
- pratiloma
- birth in a mixed family wherein the father is inferior in social status to the mother
- anuloma-jam
- birth in a mixed family in which the father is superior in social status to the mother
- dravya
- material objects or possessions
- deśa
- the place
- vayaḥ
- one’s age
- kālān
- the time
- svargam
- heaven
- narakam
- hell
- eva
- indeed
- ca
- also
According to Vedic literature, the superior and inferior varieties found in the human social system, varṇāśrama, are due to pious and sinful modes of family planning. Thus piety and sin are constant points of reference in the Vedic analysis of the components of a given situation — namely the material ingredients, place, age and time. Indeed, the Vedas reveal the existence of material heaven and hell, which are certainly based on piety and sin.