Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

आततायिनमायांतमपि वेदांतगं द्विजम् । जिघांसंतं जिघांसेत्तु न तेन ब्रह्महा भवेत्

Transliteration

ātatāyinamāyāṃtamapi vedāṃtagaṃ dvijam | jighāṃsaṃtaṃ jighāṃsettu na tena brahmahā bhavet

Translation

Mesmo que o agressor que se aproxima seja um brāhmaṇa duas-vezes-nascido, versado em Vedānta, se vier com intenção de matar, pode-se matá-lo em resposta; por esse ato não se torna matador de um brāhmaṇa. Do ponto de vista śaiva, isso sustenta o dharma e a proteção da vida, para que a devoção ao Senhor Śiva não seja manchada por cumplicidade com o adharma.

Word by Word

• आततायिनम्: an aggressor
• आततायिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आततायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘आततायिन्’ = aggressor/assailant

• आयान्तम्: approaching
• आयान्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: या (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आ-यान्त’ = coming/approaching

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = even/also

• वेदान्तगम्: one who has reached/knows Vedānta
• वेदान्तगम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदान्त + ग (प्रातिपदिक); गम् (धातु) से ‘ग’
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वेदान्तं गतः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• द्विजम्: a brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जिघांसन्तम्: intending to kill
• जिघांसन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) + सन् (इच्छार्थक) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: सन्नन्त-धातु ‘जिघांस’ (हन्तुम् इच्छति) का शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जिघांसेत्: should kill
• जिघांसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) सन्नन्त ‘जिघांस’
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘जिघांसेत्’ = should kill (in return)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात = but/indeed

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• तेन: by that (act)
• तेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), एकवचन; ‘तेन’ = by that/thereby

• ब्रह्महा: a slayer of a brāhmaṇa
• ब्रह्महा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ब्रह्मणः हन्ता); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma includes protecting life and society; when stopping a murderous aggressor is necessary, the act—done as duty rather than hatred—does not create the specific sin of brahma-hatyā, preserving the devotee’s inner purity for Shiva-bhakti.

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

Linga worship emphasizes purity of conduct and responsibility; this verse frames ethical action as part of Shaiva living-dharma, so devotion to Saguna Shiva is supported by righteous protection rather than passive allowance of adharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is dharmic steadiness: maintain japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a calm, duty-centered mind, acting without malice—no specific bhasma/rudraksha rite is directly prescribed in this verse.