Shloka 48
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
कर्मभि: शुचिभिर्देवि शुद्धात्मा विजितेन्द्रिय: । शूद्रो5पि द्विजवत् सेव्य इति ब्रह्माब्रवीत् स््वयम्,देवि! शूद्र भी यदि जितेन्द्रिय होकर पवित्र कर्मोके अनुष्ठानसे अपने अन्तःकरणको शुद्ध बना लेता है, वह द्विजकी ही भाँति सेव्य होता है--यह साक्षात् ब्रह्माजीका कथन है
karmabhiḥ śucibhir devi śuddhātmā vijitendriyaḥ | śūdro 'pi dvijavat sevya iti brahmābravīt svayam, devi ||
Maheshvara said: “O Goddess, even a Śūdra—if, through pure deeds, he purifies his inner self and conquers his senses—becomes worthy of being honored and served just like a twice-born. This, O Devi, was declared directly by Brahmā himself.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worthiness for honor is grounded in ethical conduct: purity of actions, inner purification, and mastery over the senses can make even one socially labeled a Śūdra deserving of the same respect accorded to a dvija.
Mahēśvara addresses Devī and cites Brahmā’s authoritative statement to affirm that spiritual and moral excellence—shown through pure deeds and self-restraint—confers social and religious esteem, transcending birth-based distinctions.