Shloka 52

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मः स्वभाव: सुश्रोणि सम: सर्वत्र मे मति: । निर्गुणं निर्मल ब्रह्म यत्र तिष्ठति स द्विज:,सुश्रोणि! ब्रह्मका स्वभाव सर्वत्र समान है। जिसके भीतर उस निर्गुण और निर्मल ब्रह्मका ज्ञान है, वही वास्तवमें ब्राह्मण है, ऐसा मेरा विचार है

Transliteration

brāhmaḥ svabhāvaḥ suśroṇi samaḥ sarvatra me matiḥ | nirguṇaṁ nirmalaṁ brahma yatra tiṣṭhati sa dvijaḥ ||

Translation

సుశ్రోణీ! నా దృష్టిలో బ్రాహ్మ స్వభావం అన్ని చోట్ల సమానమే. ఎవరి అంతరంలో ఆ నిర్గుణ, నిర్మల బ్రహ్మ జ్ఞానరూపంగా నివసిస్తుందో, వాడే నిజమైన బ్రాహ్మణుడు.

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मः: brahminical
• ब्राह्मः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक; ब्राह्म-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्वभावः: nature, disposition
• स्वभावः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सुश्रोणि: O fair-hipped lady (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुश्रोणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• समः: equal, even-minded
• समः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)

• मे: my
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: —, Genitive, Singular

• मतिः: thought, opinion
• मतिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• निर्गुणम्: without qualities (attribute-less)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निर्मलम्: pure, stainless
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ब्रह्म: Brahman (the Absolute)
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• यत्र: where, in whom
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)

• तिष्ठति: stands, abides
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सः: he, that person
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्विजः: twice-born; brahmin
• द्विजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī-Maheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
• suśroṇī (addressed woman)
• Brahman

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Brahminhood is defined by inner realization: the one in whom the attributeless, pure Brahman is established (i.e., who knows/realizes Brahman) is the true brahmin, not merely one marked by external status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara addresses a woman respectfully as ‘suśroṇī’ and states his impartial judgment on what constitutes a real ‘dvija/brahmin’: inner spiritual establishment in nirguṇa, nirmala Brahman.