Shloka 51
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
सर्वो<यं ब्राह्मणो लोके वृत्तेन तु विधीयते । वृत्ते स्थितस्तु शूद्रो5पि ब्राह्मणत्वं नियच्छति
sarvo ’yaṃ brāhmaṇo loke vṛttena tu vidhīyate | vṛtte sthitas tu śūdro ’pi brāhmaṇatvaṃ niyacchati ||
Śrī Maheśvara bersabda: “Di dunia ini, martabat golongan Brahmana ditegakkan semata-mata oleh kelakuan (vṛtta). Bahkan seorang Śūdra, jika teguh berpegang pada kelakuan yang benar, dapat mencapai keadaan Brahmana.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Social and spiritual worth is grounded in vṛtta—ethical conduct and disciplined living—rather than merely in birth-status. Right conduct sustains the dignity of the Brahmin ideal, and the same conduct can elevate anyone who embodies it.
Śrī Maheśvara delivers a didactic statement within Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused discourse, emphasizing that moral behavior is the true criterion for recognized excellence and religious status.