Shloka 57

Kāla (Right Time), Effort, and the Ethics of Giving — कालः, प्रयत्नः, दानधर्मश्च

Devanagari script

एवंभूतो हि यो विप्र: सत्पथं सत्यथे स्थित: । आहिताग्निरधीयानो ब्रह्म॒भूयाय कल्पते

Transliteration

evaṁbhūto hi yo vipraḥ satpathaṁ satyataye sthitaḥ | āhitāgnir adhīyāno brahmabhūyāya kalpate ||

Translation

Maheshvara nói: “Một Bà-la-môn có phẩm hạnh như vậy—vững lập trong chân thật, đứng trên con đường thiện—giữ gìn các thánh hỏa và sống chuyên cần học Veda, thì xứng đáng đạt đến cảnh giới Phạm (Brahman).”

Word by Word

• एवंभूतः: such (of this kind)
• एवंभूतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एवंभूत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्रः: brahmin/learned man
• विप्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सत्पथम्: the good path
• सत्पथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्पथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सत्यथे: in the true way/right course
• सत्यथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्यथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्थितः: standing/established
• स्थितः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आहिताग्निः: one who has established the sacred fires
• आहिताग्निः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आहिताग्नि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अधीयानः: studying/reciting (Veda)
• अधीयानः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ
• Form: शानच् (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्रह्मभूयाय: for brahmanhood/state of Brahman
• ब्रह्मभूयाय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मभूय
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• कल्पते: is fit/attains
• Type: Verb
• Root: कॢप्
• Form: Present, Ātmanepada, Third, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrīmaheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
• vipra (brāhmaṇa)
• satpatha (the righteous path)
• āhita-agni (sacred fires/Agnihotra)
• Brahman (brahmabhāva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Steadfast truthfulness and adherence to the righteous path, supported by disciplined Vedic study and the maintenance of sacred fires (Agnihotra), qualifies a brahmin for realization of Brahman—spiritual culmination rather than mere social status.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrīmaheśvara is instructing about the marks and practices of an ideal brahmin. The verse links ethical integrity (truth and right conduct) with ritual and study, presenting them as a unified path leading to brahmabhāva (attainment of Brahman).