Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 148 Shloka 51 - Mahabharata | German | Vedapath

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Shloka 51

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

सर्वो<यं ब्राह्मणो लोके वृत्तेन तु विधीयते । वृत्ते स्थितस्तु शूद्रो5पि ब्राह्मणत्वं नियच्छति

Transliteration

sarvo ’yaṃ brāhmaṇo loke vṛttena tu vidhīyate | vṛtte sthitas tu śūdro ’pi brāhmaṇatvaṃ niyacchati ||

Translation

Śrī Maheśvara sprach: „In dieser Welt wird der Rang der Brahmanengemeinschaft allein durch das rechte Verhalten (vṛtta) getragen. Selbst ein Śūdra kann, wenn er fest im rechten Wandel steht, den Stand des Brahmanen erlangen.“

Word by Word

सर्वःentire/whole

अयम्this

ब्राह्मणःBrahmin

लोकेin the world

वृत्तेनby conduct/behavior

तुbut/indeed

विधीयतेis determined/ordained (is made to be)

वृत्तेin conduct (in good behavior)

स्थितःstanding/abiding

तुbut/indeed

शूद्रःa Shudra

अपिeven/also

ब्राह्मणत्वम्Brahminhood/status of a Brahmin

नियच्छतिattains/obtains (lit. restrains/holds to oneself)

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Maheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)

Brāhmaṇa

Śūdra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Social and spiritual worth is grounded in vṛtta—ethical conduct and disciplined living—rather than merely in birth-status. Right conduct sustains the dignity of the Brahmin ideal, and the same conduct can elevate anyone who embodies it.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara delivers a didactic statement within Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused discourse, emphasizing that moral behavior is the true criterion for recognized excellence and religious status.