Shloka 52
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
ब्राह्मः स्वभाव: सुश्रोणि सम: सर्वत्र मे मति: । निर्गुणं निर्मल ब्रह्म यत्र तिष्ठति स द्विज:,सुश्रोणि! ब्रह्मका स्वभाव सर्वत्र समान है। जिसके भीतर उस निर्गुण और निर्मल ब्रह्मका ज्ञान है, वही वास्तवमें ब्राह्मण है, ऐसा मेरा विचार है
brāhmaḥ svabhāvaḥ suśroṇi samaḥ sarvatra me matiḥ | nirguṇaṁ nirmalaṁ brahma yatra tiṣṭhati sa dvijaḥ ||
Maheshvara said: “O fair-hipped one, my view is impartial everywhere: the true ‘brahmin’ nature is the same in all. The person in whom the attributeless and stainless Brahman abides—through realized knowledge of That—he alone is truly a brahmin.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Brahminhood is defined by inner realization: the one in whom the attributeless, pure Brahman is established (i.e., who knows/realizes Brahman) is the true brahmin, not merely one marked by external status.
Śrī Maheśvara addresses a woman respectfully as ‘suśroṇī’ and states his impartial judgment on what constitutes a real ‘dvija/brahmin’: inner spiritual establishment in nirguṇa, nirmala Brahman.