Shloka 31

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

सुकुलीनान्निजान्मत्वा चतुर्वर्णैर्विवर्तनाः । सर्ववर्णभ्रष्टकरा मूढास्सत्कर्मकारिणः

Transliteration

sukulīnānnijānmatvā caturvarṇairvivartanāḥ | sarvavarṇabhraṣṭakarā mūḍhāssatkarmakāriṇaḥ

Translation

Indem sie Menschen guter Abstammung für die Ihren halten, werden die vier Varṇas aus ihrer rechten Ordnung verdreht. Solche Verblendeten, obgleich sie scheinbar „gute Taten“ vollbringen, werden zur Ursache des Niedergangs und der Verderbnis aller Varṇas.

Word by Word

• सु-कुलीनान्: noble-born (persons)
• सु-कुलीनान्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; 'सु-कुलीन' = noble-born

• निजान्: their own
• निजान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (सुकुलीनान् इत्यस्य)

• मत्वा: having considered
• मत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; 'having thought/considered'

• चतुर्-वर्णैः: by/with the four varṇas
• चतुर्-वर्णैः: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; 'चतुर्भिः वर्णैः'

• विवर्तनाः: disturbers/perverters
• विवर्तनाः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सर्व-वर्ण-भ्रष्ट-कराः: makers of all varṇas fallen
• सर्व-वर्ण-भ्रष्ट-कराः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रष्ट (कृदन्त; √भ्रंश् 'to fall') + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'सर्वेषां वर्णानां भ्रष्टं कुर्वन्ति'

• मूढाः: deluded
• मूढाः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (कृदन्त; √मुह्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सत्-कर्म-कारिणः: doers of good deeds
• सत्-कर्म-कारिणः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'सत्कर्म कुर्वन्ति'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the teaching tradition of the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The verse’s theme—confusion of identity and ‘good’ acts that still corrupt—mirrors Kāśī’s teaching motif: mere social virtue without right knowledge and devotion does not cut pāśa; Viśveśvara is approached for discernment (viveka) and purification of intention.

Significance: Pilgrimage is framed as correcting misrecognition (avidyā) and reorienting action toward Śiva, transforming outward ‘satkarma’ into Śiva-arpita karma.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga style varṇa-āśrama-viparyaya (inversion of norms)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse warns that dharma collapses when social and ethical duties are distorted by delusion and misplaced identity; in Shaiva thought, outer “good works” without right discernment and humility still bind the soul and harm collective order.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Linga-worship is meant to purify ego and delusion; this verse implies that devotion to Saguna Shiva must transform conduct and discrimination (viveka), otherwise ritual and charity can become mere appearance that still produces adharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice self-examination while doing dharma—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a resolve for truthfulness and humility—so that “satkarma” is rooted in purity of intention rather than social pride.