मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः | स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम्
māṃ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye.api syuḥ pāpayonayaḥ . striyo vaiśyāstathā śūdrāste.api yānti parāṃ gatim
Car, ô fils de Pritha (Partha), même ceux qui sont nés de péché – les femmes, les Vaishyas, ainsi que les Shudras – même eux atteignent le But suprême en cherchant refuge en Moi.
For, O son of Prtha, even those who are born of sin-women, Vaisyas, as also Sudras [S.'s construction of this portion is: women, Vaisyas as also Sudras, and even others who are born of sin (i.e., those who are born low and are of vile deeds, viz Mlecchas, Pukkasas and others). M.S. also takes papa-yonayah (born of sin) as a separate phrase, and classifies women and others only as those darred from Vedic study, etc.-Tr.]-, even they reach the highest Goal by taking shelter under Me.
Les Chandalas (hors-castes) sont considérés comme nés de péché. Les femmes et les Shudras étaient traditionnellement exclus de l'étude des Vedas. Cependant, ce qui importe est la dévotion, et non les traditions familiales ou le statut social. Des exemples comme l'éléphant Gajendra, le démon Prahlada, les Gopis, ou des figures comme Nandan et Raidas, montrent que la naissance est immatérielle. La dévotion est tout. Même les plus humbles peuvent M'atteindre s'ils ont foi et dévotion, s'ils chantent Mon Nom et pensent à Moi constamment. Dans la sphère spirituelle, toutes les distinctions externes de caste, de couleur et de croyance disparaissent. L'hindouisme n'enferme pas le salut dans un groupe particulier de l'humanité ; tous peuvent atteindre Dieu par la dévotion.
Chandalas or outcastes are of a sinful birth. Women and Sudras are darred by social rules from the study of the Vedas. What is wanted is devotion. There is no need for family traditions. The elephant Gajendra remembered Me with devotion and attained Me in spite of his being an animal. The lowest of the low and the vilest of the vile can attain Me if they have faith and devotion? if they sing and repeat My Name and if they think of Me always and think of no worldy object.Prahlada was a demon and yet by his devotion forced Me to incarnate as Narasimha. Birth is immaterial. Devotion is everything. The Gopis attained Me through their devotion. Kamsa and Ravana attained Me through fear. Sisupala reached Me through hatred. Narada? Dhruva? Akrura? Suka? Sanatkumara and others attined Me through their devotion. Nandan? a man of low caste but a great devotee of Lord Siva? had direct vision of the Lord in Chidambaram in South India. Raidas? a cobbler? was a great devotee. In the spiritual life or in the Adhyatmic sphere all the external distinctions of caste? colour and creed disappear altogether. Shabari? though a Bhilni (a tribe) by birth? was a great devotee of Lord Rama.Hindu scriptures are full of such instances. Hinduism does not restrict salvation to any one group or section of humanity. All can attain God if they have devotion.