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,लोकमें यह सारा ब्राह्मणसमुदाय सदाचारसे ही अपने पदपर बना हुआ है। सदाचारमें स्थित रहनेवाला शाद्र भी ब्राह्मणत्वको प्राप्त हो सकता है

Transliteration

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

Translation

Śrī Maheśvara said: “In this world, the standing of the Brahmin community is upheld by conduct (vṛtta) alone. Even a Śūdra, if firmly established in right conduct, can attain the state of Brahminhood.”

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

Cross References

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.