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Shloka 48

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

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

कर्मभि: शुचिभिर्देवि शुद्धात्मा विजितेन्द्रिय: । शूद्रो5पि द्विजवत्‌ सेव्य इति ब्रह्माब्रवीत्‌ स्‍्वयम्‌

karmabhiḥ śucibhir devi śuddhātmā vijitendriyaḥ | śūdro 'pi dvijavat sevya iti brahmābravīt svayam, devi ||

Maheshvara nói: “Hỡi Nữ Thần, ngay cả một Śūdra—nếu nhờ những hành vi thanh tịnh mà tự thanh lọc nội tâm và chế ngự các căn—thì cũng đáng được tôn kính và phụng sự như một dvija. Điều ấy chính Brahmā đã trực tiếp tuyên bố.”

कर्मभिःby (means of) deeds/rites
कर्मभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
शुचिभिःpure
शुचिभिः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootशुचि
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Plural
देविO goddess
देवि:
TypeNoun
Rootदेवी
FormFeminine, Vocative, Singular
शुद्धात्माone whose inner self is purified
शुद्धात्मा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशुद्धात्मन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
विजितेन्द्रियःhaving conquered the senses
विजितेन्द्रियः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविजितेन्द्रिय
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शूद्रःa Shudra
शूद्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपिeven/also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि
द्विजवत्like a twice-born (dvija)
द्विजवत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootद्विजवत्
सेव्यःto be served/honoured
सेव्यः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसेव्य
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
ब्रह्माBrahmā
ब्रह्मा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (ब्रह्मा)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अब्रवीत्said/spoke
अब्रवीत्:
TypeVerb
Rootब्रू
FormImperfect (Lan), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada
स्वयम्himself
स्वयम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootस्वयम्
देविO goddess
देवि:
TypeNoun
Rootदेवी
FormFeminine, Vocative, Singular

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Ś
Śrī Mahēśvara (Śiva)
D
Devī (addressed as Devi; likely Umā/Pārvatī in this dialogue)
B
Brahmā
Ś
Śūdra
D
Dvija (twice-born)

Educational Q&A

Worthiness for honor is grounded in ethical conduct: purity of actions, inner purification, and mastery over the senses can make even one socially labeled a Śūdra deserving of the same respect accorded to a dvija.

Mahēśvara addresses Devī and cites Brahmā’s authoritative statement to affirm that spiritual and moral excellence—shown through pure deeds and self-restraint—confers social and religious esteem, transcending birth-based distinctions.