Shloka 18
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
शूद्रान्न गहितं देवि सदा देवैर्महात्मभि: । पितामहमुखोत्सृष्ट प्रमाणमिति मे मति:,देवताओं और महात्मा पुरुषोंने शूद्रके अन्नकी सदा ही निन््दा की है। इस विषयमें पितामह ब्रह्माजीके श्रीमुखका वचन प्रमाण है, ऐसा मेरा विश्वास है
śūdrānnaṃ gāhitaṃ devi sadā devair mahātmabhiḥ | pitāmaha-mukhotsṛṣṭaṃ pramāṇam iti me matiḥ ||
Maheshvara said: “O Goddess, the food associated with a Śūdra has always been censured by the gods and by great-souled sages. In this matter, I hold the utterance that issued from the mouth of Pitāmaha Brahmā to be authoritative proof.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that in questions of conduct (here, food-related norms), one should rely on recognized authority (pramāṇa), specifically the pronouncement attributed to Brahmā, and it presents a traditional stance that certain foods are censured within that normative framework.
Śrī Mahēśvara addresses the Devī and states his settled view: that gods and great sages have long criticized “Śūdra-associated food,” and that Brahmā’s utterance is the decisive authority for this claim.