Shloka 21
अध्याय २९७ — श्रेयः, धृति, दान-नियमाः
Welfare, Steadfastness, and Norms of Giving
द्विपदानामपि तथा द्विजा वै परमा: स्मृता: । द्विजानामपि राजेन्द्र प्रज्ञावन्त: परा मता: | प्राज्ञानामात्मसम्बुद्धा: सम्बुद्धानाममानिन:
dvipadānām api tathā dvijā vai paramāḥ smṛtāḥ | dvijānām api rājendra prajñāvantaḥ parā matāḥ | prājñānām ātma-sambuddhāḥ sambuddhānām amāninaḥ |
بين جميع ذوي القدمين (البشر)، يُذكَر «ذوو الولادتين» (dvija) على أنهم الأوّلون. وبين ذوي الولادتين، أيها الملك، يُعَدّ الحكماء أرفع منزلة. وبين الحكماء، من استيقظوا على معرفة الذات (آتمن) أسمى؛ وبين المستيقظين للذات، من تخلّصوا من الكِبْر يُعَدّون الأفضل على الإطلاق.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A graded ideal of excellence is presented: social status is surpassed by wisdom, wisdom by Self-realization, and Self-realization is crowned by humility—freedom from ego is portrayed as the highest virtue.
Parāśara addresses a king (rājendra) and instructs him on true superiority, shifting the focus from birth-based rank to inner qualities—discernment, realization of the Self, and especially the absence of pride.