Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

तेनाग्निमन्त्रपूतात्मा क्षत्त्रियो ब्राह्मणो भवेत् । विधितो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा याजकस्तु प्रजायते

Transliteration

tenāgnimantrapūtātmā kṣattriyo brāhmaṇo bhavet | vidhito brāhmaṇo bhūtvā yājakastu prajāyate

Translation

ດ້ວຍພິທີນັ້ນ—ຈິດວິນຍານທີ່ຖືກຊໍາລະດ້ວຍມັນຕຣາແຫ່ງອັກນິ—ກະສັດຕຣິຍະຍ່ອມເປັນພຣາຫມະນະ. ເມື່ອເປັນພຣາຫມະນະຕາມພິທີຖືກຕ້ອງແລ້ວ ຈຶ່ງໄດ້ຮັບການຮັບຮອງເປັນຍາຊະກະ (ປະໂລຫິດ) ຜູ້ມີສິດປະກອບພິທີ.

Word by Word

तेनby that/thereby

अग्निमन्त्रपूतात्माone purified in soul by Agni-mantras

क्षत्त्रियःa kshatriya

ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin

भवेत्should become

विधितःas prescribed/ordained

ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin

भूत्वाhaving become

याजकःa priest/one who performs sacrifices

तुthen/indeed

प्रजायतेis born/arises

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

Agni

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that spiritual qualification is rooted in purification (śuddhi) through mantra and prescribed discipline, not merely birth-status—pointing to an inner transformation that makes one fit for sacred service in a Shaiva framework.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly linked with purity of body and mind through mantra and rite; this verse underlines that mantra-purified eligibility is what authorizes one to perform sanctioned worship and sacrificial acts offered to Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to Agni-mantra practice—typically homa/ritual fire offerings with Vedic mantras—as a means of inner purification leading to eligibility for ordained priestly functions; the takeaway is disciplined mantra-sādhana performed according to vidhi.