Shloka 12
सूक्ष्मभूत-भूतात्मविज्ञानम्
Knowing the subtle principle and the bhūtātman through yoga
येन केनचिदाच्छन्नो येन केनचिदाशित: । यत्र क्वचन शायी च त॑ देवा ब्राह्मणं विदु:
yena kenacid ācchanno yena kenacid āśitaḥ | yatra kvacana śāyī ca taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ ||
যে যা-ই পায় তাই দিয়ে দেহ আচ্ছাদিত করে, সময়মতো যা-ই রুক্ষ-শুষ্ক খাদ্য মেলে তাই গ্রহণ করে, এবং যেখানে-সেখানে শয়ন করে—দেবতারা তাকেই ব্রাহ্মণ (ব্রহ্মজ্ঞ) বলে মানেন।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A true brāhmaṇa is identified by inner realization and non-attachment: accepting any clothing, any simple food that comes in time, and any place to sleep, without craving or pride. Such contentment and freedom from dependence on comforts is presented as a sign of Brahman-knowledge.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and the qualities of the spiritually accomplished, Vyāsa describes the conduct of an ideal renunciant/wise person. The verse functions as a criterion: the gods themselves ‘recognize’ such a person as a true brāhmaṇa.