Shloka 15

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

विप्रा लोभग्रहग्रस्ता वेदविक्रयजीविनः । धनार्जनार्थमभ्यस्तविद्या मदविमोहिताः

Transliteration

viprā lobhagrahagrastā vedavikrayajīvinaḥ | dhanārjanārthamabhyastavidyā madavimohitāḥ

Translation

The brāhmaṇas were seized by the grip of greed, living by selling the Veda. They pursued learning only to gain wealth, and, deluded by pride and intoxicated self-regard, lost their right discernment.

Word by Word

• विप्राः: Brahmins
• विप्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• लोभग्रहग्रस्ताः: seized by the grasp of greed
• लोभग्रहग्रस्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोभ + ग्रह + ग्रस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘लोभ-ग्रह’ (seizure by greed) + ग्रस्त (past participle of √ग्रस्)

• वेदविक्रयजीविनः: living by selling the Vedas
• वेदविक्रयजीविनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + विक्रय + जीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘वेद-विक्रय-जीविन्’ = one who lives by selling the Veda

• धनार्जनार्थम्: for the sake of earning money
• धनार्जनार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धन + अर्जन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः—उद्देश्य/प्रयोजनार्थे (for the sake/purpose of)

• अभ्यस्तविद्याः: those with (only) rote-practiced learning
• अभ्यस्तविद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यस्त (वि + √अस्/√अस्?; here from √अस्? actually √अस् not; standard: अभि + √अस्/√अस् not used; better: अभि + √अस्?; in usage ‘अभ्यस्त’ = practiced, from √अस्?; accepted as कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘अभ्यस्ता विद्या येषाम्’ = those whose learning is (merely) practiced/rote

• मदविमोहिताः: deluded by pride/intoxication
• मदविमोहिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद + वि + मोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘मदेन विमोहित’ = deluded by intoxication/pride (past participle of √मुह् with vi-)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s Kāśī-centered frame, social and ritual decline is narrated as the backdrop for Śiva Viśvanātha’s reassertion of dharma and bestowal of liberating grace in Avimukta (Kāśī).

Significance: Darśana and worship at Kāśī Viśvanātha is held to cut through delusion and restore right discernment (viveka), turning the soul from greed-bound action toward Śiva-oriented liberation.

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Brahmanas

FAQs

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

It warns that sacred knowledge becomes spiritually sterile when driven by greed and ego; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes purification of the pashu (bound soul) through humility, devotion, and right conduct so that knowledge leads to Śiva-anugraha (grace) rather than bondage.

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

When scriptural learning is commercialized, the Purana redirects seekers to sincere Saguna worship—Linga-upāsanā with devotion and purity—so that ritual and mantra become vehicles for inner transformation instead of social display or profit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt simple, non-mercenary Śiva-sādhana—daily reverent Linga worship, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and a disciplined life marked by humility—so pride and greed are weakened at the root.