Shloka 3
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
वैश्यो वा क्षत्रिय: केन द्विजो वा क्षत्रियो भवेत् प्रतिलोम: कथं देव शक््यो धर्मो निवर्तितुम्
vaiśyo vā kṣatriyaḥ kena dvijo vā kṣatriyo bhavet | pratilomaḥ kathaṃ deva śakyo dharmo nivartitum ||
ಯಾವ ಕಾರಣದಿಂದ ವೈಶ್ಯನು ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ? ಅಥವಾ ದ್ವಿಜನು ಹೇಗೆ ಕ್ಷತ್ರಿಯನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ? ಓ ದೇವಾ! ಪ್ರತಿಲೋಮ ಧರ್ಮವನ್ನು ಹೇಗೆ ತಡೆದು ನಿವರ್ತಿಸಬಹುದು?
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical inquiry into how social identity (varna-status) is understood in relation to conduct and qualification, and how deviations that invert the intended moral-social order (pratiloma) can be restrained—implying that dharma is maintained not merely by birth-claims but by regulating conduct and upholding rightful norms.
Śrī Maheśvara poses pointed questions to a divine interlocutor: what qualifies someone to be regarded as a Kṣatriya (whether originally Vaiśya or otherwise dvija), and by what means the disorder termed pratiloma can be prevented—setting up a discussion on dharma, social roles, and the governance of ethical boundaries.