Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन ब्राह्मणो धर्मतत्परः । साधनं सर्ववर्गस्य रक्षेद्ब्राह्मण्यमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena brāhmaṇo dharmatatparaḥ | sādhanaṃ sarvavargasya rakṣedbrāhmaṇyamuttamam

Translation

ஆகவே தர்மத்தில் நிலைத்த பிராமணன், எல்லா முயற்சியாலும் உயர்ந்த பிராமண்யத்தை (பிராமணத்துவத்தை) காக்க வேண்டும்; அது எல்லா வர்ணங்களுக்கும் சாதனமாகும்.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु) — reason/therefore
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially; Puṃ/Napुंसक, Pañcamī (5th/पञ्चमी), Ekavacana; hetvartha (reason: 'therefore/from that')

• sarva-prayatnena: with all effort
• sarva-prayatnena: Karaṇa (करण) — means/manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + prayatna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; instrumental of manner; तत्पुरुषः (sarvaḥ prayatnaḥ = all effort)

• brāhmaṇaḥ: a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) — subject (one should protect / the brāhmaṇa should protect)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• dharma-tatparaḥ: devoted to dharma
• dharma-tatparaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) — qualifies brāhmaṇaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + tatpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dharme tatparaḥ = devoted to dharma)

• sādhanam: means/support
• sādhanam: Pradhāna (प्रधान) — predicate noun (means/support)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; predicate/apposition

• sarva-vargasya: of all groups/classes
• sarva-vargasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) — genitive dependent of sādhanam
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; genitive relation; तत्पुरुषः (sarvaḥ vargaḥ = all classes/groups)

• rakṣet: should protect
• rakṣet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/Imperative/optative-like injunction), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana; parasmaipada; vidhi (injunction: 'should protect')

• brāhmaṇyam: brāhmaṇa-hood / the brāhmaṇa order
• brāhmaṇyam: Karma (कर्म) — object of rakṣet
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• uttamam: excellent/supreme
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) — qualifies brāhmaṇyam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that preserving brāhmaṇya—ethical purity, scriptural discipline, and dharmic living—is not merely personal virtue but a supportive instrument for the spiritual progress of society, aligning conduct with the Shaiva goal of liberation through right knowledge and right practice.

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is upheld by dharma, purity, and correct observance; the verse implies that those entrusted with teaching and ritual responsibility must safeguard their discipline so that Saguna Shiva worship (Linga, mantra, vrata) remains authentic and spiritually efficacious for all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is dharma-centered sādhanā: maintaining purity, truthfulness, restraint, and proper mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined observance, which supports Shaiva worship and contemplation.