न शूद्रे पातकं किं चिन्न च संस्कारमर्हति । नास्याधिकारो धर्मेऽस्ति न धर्मात् प्रतिषेधनम् ॥ १२६ ॥
A Sudra cannot commit an offence, causing loss of caste (pataka), and he is not worthy to receive the sacraments; he has no right to (fulfil) the sacred law (of the Aryans, yet) there is no prohibition against (his fulfilling certain portions of) the law.
धर्मैप्सवस्तु धर्मज्ञाः सतां वृत्तमनुष्ठिताः । मन्त्रवर्ज्यं न दुष्यन्ति प्रशंसां प्राप्नुवन्ति च ॥ १२७ ॥
(Sudras) who are desirous to gain merit, and know (their) duty, commit no sin, but gain praise, if they imitate the practice of virtuous men without reciting sacred texts.
यथा यथा हि सद्वृत्तमातिष्ठत्यनसूयकः । तथा तथैमं चामुं च लोकं प्राप्नोत्यनिन्दितः ॥ १२८ ॥
The more a (Sudra), keeping himself free from envy, imitates the behaviour of the virtuous, the more he gains, without being censured, (exaltation in) this world and the next.
The duties of the four castes (varna) in times of distress have thus been declared, and if they perform them well, they will reach the most blessed state.