Shloka 12

Varṇa-adhikāra, Karma, and the Protection of One’s Attained Spiritual Status (वर्णाधिकारः कर्म च स्वस्थानरक्षणम्)

Devanagari script

क्षत्त्रियो जायते यज्ञैसंस्कृतैरात्तदक्षिणैः । अधीते स्वर्गमन्विच्छंस्त्रेताग्निशरणं सदा

Transliteration

kṣattriyo jāyate yajñaisaṃskṛtairāttadakṣiṇaiḥ | adhīte svargamanvicchaṃstretāgniśaraṇaṃ sadā

Translation

ກະສັດຕຣິຍະ (Kṣatriya) ຍ່ອມຖືກຫຼໍ່ຫຼອມດ້ວຍຍັດ (yajña) ທີ່ຖືກຊໍາລະພິທີຢ່າງຖືກຕ້ອງ ແລະສໍາເລັດພ້ອມດ້ວຍດັກຊິນາ (dakṣiṇā) ອັນຄວນ. ເພື່ອສະແຫວງສະຫວັນ ລາວສຶກສາເວດ ແລະອາໄສພຶ່ງພາໄຟສັກສິດສາມກອງ (tretāgni) ຢູ່ເສມອ ຮັກສາວິໄນແຫ່ງການບູຊາ.

Word by Word

• क्षत्रियः: a Kṣatriya
• क्षत्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• संस्कृतैः: duly performed / consecrated
• संस्कृतैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संस्कृत (सम्+कृ धातु, क्त; प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying यज्ञैः)

• आत्त-दक्षिणैः: with the sacrificial fees duly given/received
• आत्त-दक्षिणैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्त (आ-दा धातु, क्त) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आत्ता दक्षिणा येषु = with fees taken/received/assigned)

• अधीते: he studies
• अधीते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (he studies/recites)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्विच्छन्: seeking
• अन्विच्छन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seeking’ (qualifies implied subject)

• त्रेता-अग्नि-शरणम्: refuge in the three fires
• त्रेता-अग्नि-शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (त्रेताग्नीनां शरणम् = refuge in the three sacred fires)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages, Uma-Samhita context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents disciplined yajña, rightful giving (dakṣiṇā), and Vedic study as purifying duties that refine a person’s dharma; in Shaiva perspective, such purification prepares the soul (paśu) to turn from mere heavenly reward toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though it speaks in Vedic terms (fires and sacrifice), the Shiva Purana often integrates Vedic discipline with Shaiva devotion—outer ritual becomes a foundation for inner surrender to Saguna Shiva, culminating in steadier worship and receptivity to Shiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady daily discipline—maintaining sacred fires (tretāgni), performing prescribed rites with proper dakṣiṇā, and regular Vedic recitation—implying consistency and purity of conduct as the practical takeaway.