Shloka 22
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
ब्राह्मणत्वं शुभ॑ प्राप्य दुर्लभ॑ यो&वमन्यते । अभोज्यान्नानि चाश्राति स द्विजत्वात् पतेत वै
brāhmaṇatvaṁ śubha prāpya durlabhaṁ yo ’vamanyate | abhojyānnāni cāśnāti sa dvijatvāt pateta vai ||
ಹೇ ಶುಭನೇ! ದುರ್ಲಭವಾದ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣತ್ವವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು ಅದನ್ನು ಅವಮಾನಿಸಿ, ಭೋಜ್ಯವಲ್ಲದ ಅನ್ನವನ್ನು ಸೇವಿಸಿದರೆ, ಅವನು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ದ್ವಿಜತ್ವದಿಂದ ಪತನಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನೆ।
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Brahminhood is rare and must be honored through disciplined conduct; contempt for one’s sacred status and the eating of forbidden/impure food leads to a fall from dvija standing.
Maheśvara instructs an addressed listener (‘śubha’) on dharma: he warns that neglecting the dignity and obligations of Brahminhood—especially by violating food-purity rules—causes spiritual and social degradation from the twice-born status.