Shloka 111
चतुर्वेदो<पि दुर्वत्त: स शूद्रादतिरिच्यते । योडग्निहोत्रपरो दान्तः स ब्राह्मण इति स्मृत:
caturvedo 'pi durvṛttaḥ sa śūdrād atiricyate | yo 'gnīhotraparo dāntaḥ sa brāhmaṇa iti smṛtaḥ ||
قال يودهيشثيرا: «حتى من أتقن الفيدات الأربع، إن فسدت سيرته، عُدَّ لا خير فيه فوق الشودرَة (Śūdra). أمّا من واظب على الأَغْنِيهوترا (Agnihotra)، وكان كاظمًا لنفسه منضبطًا، فذاك هو الذي يُذكر بوصفه براهمنًا حقًّا.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes character and disciplined practice over mere scriptural learning: Vedic mastery without good conduct is spiritually hollow, while devotion to duty (Agnihotra) and self-restraint mark one as truly ‘Brāhmaṇa’ in the ethical sense.
In the Vana Parva’s dharma-discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a criterion for religious and social worth: he contrasts a learned but immoral person with a disciplined practitioner, emphasizing that dharma is measured by conduct and restraint.