Shloka 16
Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma
शूद्रानभ्यर्चयन्त्यल्पश्रुतभाग्यबलान्विताः न प्रेक्षन्ते गर्विताश् च शूद्रा द्विजवरान् द्विज
śūdrānabhyarcayantyalpaśrutabhāgyabalānvitāḥ na prekṣante garvitāś ca śūdrā dvijavarān dvija
ஓ இருமுறை பிறந்தவரே! குறைந்த கல்வி, குறைந்த பாக்கியம், பலவீனமான வலிமை உடைய சூத்ரர்கள் உரிய மரியாதை செய்யார்; அகந்தையால் சிறந்த த்விஜர்களை நோக்கவும் மாட்டார்।
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
FAQs
It frames pride and disrespect as inner impurities that obstruct eligibility (adhikāra) for Śiva-bhakti; true Linga-pūjā requires humility and disciplined conduct, not mere external ritual.
Implicitly, it points to Śiva as Pati who is approached through purification of the pashu; arrogance is a pasha that veils right vision, whereas reverence and self-restraint align the soul toward Śiva-tattva.
Sadācāra (right conduct) as a foundational limb of Pāśupata discipline—mastery over pride and proper reverence—supporting effective pūjā and inner yoga rather than empty formality.