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Shloka 15

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

तेनाग्निमन्त्रपूतात्मा क्षत्त्रियो ब्राह्मणो भवेत् । विधितो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा याजकस्तु प्रजायते

tenāgnimantrapūtātmā kṣattriyo brāhmaṇo bhavet | vidhito brāhmaṇo bhūtvā yājakastu prajāyate

اُس رسم کے ذریعے—اگنی کے منتروں سے پاکیزہ ہوئی روح والا—کشَتریہ بھی برہمن بن جاتا ہے۔ یوں شاستری ودھان کے مطابق برہمنیت پا کر وہ پھر یاجک (یَجْن کرانے والا پجاری) کے طور پر معتبر ٹھہرتا ہے۔

तेनby that/thereby
तेन:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (instrumental singular: by that/thereby)
अग्निमन्त्रपूतात्माone purified in soul by Agni-mantras
अग्निमन्त्रपूतात्मा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअग्नि-मन्त्र-पूत-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘अग्निमन्त्रैः पूतः आत्मा यस्य सः’ (one whose self is purified by Agni-mantras)
क्षत्त्रियःa kshatriya
क्षत्त्रियः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nominative singular)
ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin
ब्राह्मणः:
Karya-Predicative (विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nominative singular; predicate nominal)
भवेत्should become
भवेत्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should become’
विधितःas prescribed/ordained
विधितः:
Kriya-Visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि+धा (धातु)
Formकृदन्त; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘enjoined/ordained’ (past passive participle used adjectivally)
ब्राह्मणःa Brahmin
ब्राह्मणः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nominative singular)
भूत्वाhaving become
भूत्वा:
Purvakala-Kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formकृदन्त; क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having become’
याजकःa priest/one who performs sacrifices
याजकः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयाजक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (nominative singular)
तुthen/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (but/indeed)
प्रजायतेis born/arises
प्रजायते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र+जन् (धातु)
Formलट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘is born/comes into being’

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

A
Agni

FAQs

The verse emphasizes that spiritual qualification is rooted in purification (śuddhi) through mantra and prescribed discipline, not merely birth-status—pointing to an inner transformation that makes one fit for sacred service in a Shaiva framework.

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly linked with purity of body and mind through mantra and rite; this verse underlines that mantra-purified eligibility is what authorizes one to perform sanctioned worship and sacrificial acts offered to Saguna Shiva.

It points to Agni-mantra practice—typically homa/ritual fire offerings with Vedic mantras—as a means of inner purification leading to eligibility for ordained priestly functions; the takeaway is disciplined mantra-sādhana performed according to vidhi.