Shloka 28

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

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

Devanagari script

कुर्यादविमना: शूद्र: सततं सत्पथे स्थित: । देवद्विजातिसत्कर्ता सर्वातिथ्यकृतब्रत:

Transliteration

kuryād avimanāḥ śūdraḥ satataṁ satpathe sthitaḥ | devadvijātisatkartā sarvātithyakṛtavrataḥ ||

Translation

Maheshvara said: “Let a Shudra act without resentment, remaining constantly established on the path of the good—one who honors the gods and the twice-born, and who has taken up the vow of welcoming and serving every guest.”

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should do / should perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (करणे)
• Form: Vidhi-linga, Optative, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अविमनाः: not dejected; cheerful
• अविमनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविमनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शूद्रः: a Shudra
• शूद्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सततम्: always; continually
• सततम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• सत्पथे: on the good path
• सत्पथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्पथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितः: standing; abiding
• स्थितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (तिष्ठति) → स्थित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• देव: god(s)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• द्विजाति: twice-born class
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति
• Form: Feminine, Stem (in compound), —

• सत्कर्ता: one who honors / respects
• सत्कर्ता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्कर्तृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, तृच् (agent noun)

• सर्व: all
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: —, Stem (in compound), —

• आतिथ्य: hospitality to guests
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिथ्य
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), —

• कृत: done; performed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (करणे) → कृत
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), —, क्त (past passive participle)

• व्रतः: vow; observance
• व्रतः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrīmaheśvara
• deva (gods)
• dvijāti (twice-born)
• śūdra

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches steady righteous conduct: act without bitterness or ego, remain on the good path, honor the divine and worthy persons, and practice universal hospitality as a disciplined vow.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anushasana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Maheshvara is presented as giving normative guidance on proper conduct, here specifying virtues and observances for a Shudra—humility, adherence to righteousness, respect, and hospitality.