Shloka 35

Karma, Preta-gati, and the Continuity of Phala

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Instruction

Devanagari script

जब बालकका जन्म होता है, तब नालच्छेदनके पूर्व उसका जातकर्म-संस्कार किया जाता है। उसमें उसकी माता सावित्री कहलाती है और पिता आचार्य ।। तावच्छूद्रसमो होष यावद्‌ वेदे न जायते । तस्मिन्नेवं मतिद्वैथे मनु: स्वायम्भुवोडब्रवीत्‌

Transliteration

tāvac chūdra-samo hoṣi yāvad vede na jāyate | tasminn evaṃ mati-dvaidhe manuḥ svāyambhuvo 'bravīt ||

Translation

So long as one has not been ‘born into the Veda’—that is, initiated into Vedic study—one is regarded as equal to a Śūdra. When such doubt of understanding arose on this point, Manu, the self-born progenitor, declared the rule, clarifying how true status is grounded in discipline and sacred learning rather than mere physical birth.

Word by Word

तावत्so long; until then

शूद्र-समःequal to a Śūdra

भवःyou are / you become

यावत्as long as; until

वेदेin the Veda (i.e., in Vedic study/knowledge)

नnot

जायतेis born; arises; comes into being

तस्मिन्in that (matter/point)

एवम्thus; in this way

मति-द्वैथेin doubt of mind; in mental uncertainty

मनुःManu

स्वायम्भुवःthe son of Svayambhū (epithet of Manu)

अब्रवीत्said; spoke

Speaker

युधिछिर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Yudhiṣṭhira

Manu Svāyambhuva

Veda

Śūdra

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Sandhi Notes