Shloka 11

Varṇa-adhikāra, Karma, and the Protection of One’s Attained Spiritual Status (वर्णाधिकारः कर्म च स्वस्थानरक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

अग्निहोत्रमुपादाय शेषान्न कृतभोजनः । स वैश्यः क्षत्रियकुले जायते नात्र संशयः

Transliteration

agnihotramupādāya śeṣānna kṛtabhojanaḥ | sa vaiśyaḥ kṣatriyakule jāyate nātra saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Having taken up the Agnihotra and eating only what remains thereafter as sanctified prasāda, that Vaiśya is born in a Kṣatriya family—of this there is no doubt.

Word by Word

• अग्निहोत्रम्: the Agnihotra rite
• अग्निहोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्निहोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—अग्नौ होत्रम् इति षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष (ritual offering in fire)

• उपादाय: having undertaken
• उपादाय: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having taken up/undertaken’

• शेष-अन्नम्: leftover food
• शेष-अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (शेषम् अन्नम् = leftover food)

• कृत-भोजनः: one who has eaten
• कृत-भोजनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त) + भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कृतं भोजनं येन = one who has eaten)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वैश्यः: a Vaiśya
• वैश्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्षत्रिय-कुले: in a Kṣatriya family
• क्षत्रिय-कुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षत्रियाणां कुलम्)

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अत्र: here / in this matter
• अत्र: Desha/Prakaraṇa (देश/प्रकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that disciplined sacred duty—maintaining Agnihotra and consuming only sanctified remnants—purifies karma and elevates one’s future birth, showing how dharmic restraint supports spiritual refinement in Shaiva living.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

While it speaks in a Vedic idiom (Agnihotra), the principle aligns with Saguna Shiva worship: offerings made with purity and then accepting the remainder as sanctified food mirrors the Shaiva attitude of offering to Shiva (including the Linga) and living from consecrated remnants (prasada).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is disciplined daily worship with offerings and purity in diet—treating what one consumes as consecrated remainder after worship; if practicing Shaiva sadhana, pair this with steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and a sattvic, regulated life.