Shloka 7

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणत्वं शुभं प्राप्य ब्राह्मण्यं योऽवमन्यते । भोज्याभोज्यं न जानाति स पुमान्क्षत्रियो भवेत्

Transliteration

brāhmaṇatvaṃ śubhaṃ prāpya brāhmaṇyaṃ yo'vamanyate | bhojyābhojyaṃ na jānāti sa pumānkṣatriyo bhavet

Translation

Having attained the auspicious state of being a Brahmin, the man who belittles true Brahminhood and fails to discern what is fit to be eaten and what is unfit—such a person becomes counted as a Kshatriya.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणत्वम्: Brahminhood
• ब्राह्मणत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणत्व (प्रातिपदिक; ब्राह्मण + त्व)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious, good
• शुभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्य (क्त्वा/ल्यप्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund)

• ब्राह्मण्यम्: Brahmin status/quality
• ब्राह्मण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• अवमन्यते: disrespects, despises
• अवमन्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-मन्य् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भोज्याभोज्यम्: what is edible and inedible
• भोज्याभोज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोज्य (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज् + यत्) + अभोज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (भोज्यं च अभोज्यं च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वार्थे)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• जानाति: knows
• जानाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present indicative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• पुमान्: man, person
• पुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• क्षत्रियः: a Kshatriya
• क्षत्रियः: Pratijna/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (प्रत्यय/भवति-सम्बन्धे), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• भवेत्: would become/should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana’s dharmic teaching as received in the Uma Samhita)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual status is safeguarded by conduct: humility, discernment, and purity. In Shaiva terms, inner discipline weakens pāśa (bondage) and prepares the pashu (individual soul) for Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga worship is not merely external; it is supported by śauca (purity) and right discernment. Disrespecting dharmic discipline while claiming spiritual identity undermines the inner fitness required for focused Saguna Shiva worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain purity and restraint (especially in food) alongside daily Shiva-upasana—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namah Shivaya) and, where traditional, Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as reminders of discipline and devotion.