Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 50
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
Devanagari script
न योनिर्नापि संस्कारो न श्रुतं न च संतति: । कारणानि द्विजत्वस्य वृत्तमेव तु कारणम्
Transliteration
na yonir nāpi saṁskāro na śrutaṁ na ca santatiḥ | kāraṇāni dvijatvasya vṛttam eva tu kāraṇam ||
Translation
Śrī Maheśvara said: “Neither birth, nor the sacraments, nor learning of the Veda, nor lineage are the true causes of being a ‘twice-born’. The real cause is conduct alone.” The verse shifts the basis of Brahminhood from inherited status to lived dharma—ethical discipline and right behavior as the decisive mark of spiritual and social worth.
Word by Word
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
योनिḥbirth, lineage, womb
योनिḥ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयोनि
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
नnor
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
अपिalso/even
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
संस्कारःrite, consecratory ceremony, refinement
संस्कारः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसंस्कार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नnor
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
श्रुतम्learning, Vedic study/hearing
श्रुतम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootश्रुत
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
नnor
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
संततिःprogeny, lineage/continuity
संततिः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसंतति
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
कारणानिcauses
कारणानि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकारण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
द्विजत्वस्यof twice-born status
द्विजत्वस्य:
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजत्व
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
वृत्तम्conduct, behavior
वृत्तम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवृत्त
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
एवalone/indeed
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
तुbut
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
कारणम्cause
कारणम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकारण
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Characters & Entities
Ś
Śrī Maheśvara (Śiva)Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Sandhi Notes