Shloka 23
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
सुरापो ब्रह्दाहा क्षुद्रचोरो भग्नव्रतो 5शुचि: । स्वाध्यायवर्जित: पापो लुब्धो नैकृतिक: शठ:
surāpo brahmahā kṣudracoro bhagnavrato 'śuciḥ | svādhyāyavarjitaḥ pāpo lubdho naikṛtikaḥ śaṭhaḥ ||
Dijo Śrī Maheśvara: “El bebedor de embriagantes, el matador de un brāhmaṇa, el ladrón mezquino, quien ha quebrantado sus votos y quien es impuro; quien ha abandonado el estudio védico (svādhyāya), el pecador, el codicioso, el engañoso y el traicionero: tal brāhmaṇa cae de la santidad de su nacimiento brāhmánico.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that brāhmaṇa status is upheld by conduct—purity, truthfulness, vows, and especially svādhyāya—while grave sins (like intoxication, brahma-hatyā, theft) and inner vices (greed, deceit, treachery) cause a moral and spiritual fall from brāhmaṇa integrity.
Maheśvara is delivering a dharma-instruction that lists disqualifying behaviors and vices. The statement functions as a normative warning: certain actions and character traits lead a brāhmaṇa to lose the dignity and merit associated with brāhmaṇa birth.