Shloka 17

The Integrated Dharma-Discipline: Celibacy, Austerity, Charity, Observances, Forgiveness, Purity, Non-violence, Peace, Non-stealing, Self-restraint, and Guru-service

Devanagari script

देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च पूजास्वभिरतो हि यः । नित्यं नियमसंयुक्तो दानव्रतेषु सुव्रत

Transliteration

devānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ ca pūjāsvabhirato hi yaḥ | nityaṃ niyamasaṃyukto dānavrateṣu suvrata

Translation

ผู้ใดเพียรในบูชาทวยเทพและพราหมณ์ ผู้ใดประกอบด้วยนิยามะเป็นนิตย์ และมั่นคงในวรตะแห่งทาน—ผู้นั้นแลเป็นผู้มีวรตะอันประเสริฐ

Word by Word

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana

• brāhmaṇānām: of the Brahmins
• brāhmaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6th), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• pūjāsu: in acts of worship
• pūjāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Bahuvacana

• abhirataḥ: engaged/devoted
• abhirataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhirata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa to yaḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निपात)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• nityam: always
• nityam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• niyama-saṃyuktaḥ: endowed with discipline
• niyama-saṃyuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'niyamena saṃyuktaḥ' (instrumental relation)

• dāna-vrateṣu: in vows of charity
• dāna-vrateṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Saptamī (7th), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'dānasya vratāni'

• suvrata: O good-vowed one
• suvrata: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana vibhakti (vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana; address to listener

Speaker

Unspecified (context not provided for dialogue attribution)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūjāsvabhirataḥ = pūjāsu + abhirataḥ; niyamasaṃyuktaḥ = niyama + saṃyuktaḥ; dānavrateṣu = dāna + vrateṣu

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What practice does this verse praise as part of dharma?

It praises regular worship (pūjā) of the devas and honoring brāhmaṇas, combined with disciplined observances (niyama) and vows of charity (dāna-vrata).

How does the verse connect worship with ethics?

It treats worship as incomplete without self-discipline and generosity, presenting niyama and dāna as essential ethical supports for religious life.

What is the central ethical lesson of the verse?

A life of excellence is marked by reverence (toward devas and brāhmaṇas), consistent self-restraint, and committed giving.