Shloka 4
Akṣara–Kṣara Viveka: Vasiṣṭha–Karāla-Janaka Saṃvāda (अक्षर-क्षर विवेकः)
वर्णेभ्यो हि परिभ्रष्टो न वै सम्मानमर्हति । न तु यः सत्क्रियां प्राप्प राजसं कर्म सेवते
varṇebhyo hi paribhraṣṭo na vai sammānam arhati | na tu yaḥ satkriyāṃ prāpya rājasaṃ karma sevate ||
Parāśara sprach: „Wer von der rechten Lebensführung abfällt, die seinem sozialen und sittlichen Stand entspricht, verdient wahrhaft keine Ehre. Doch selbst wer Achtung und gute Behandlung empfangen hat, soll sich nicht rajassischen (rajas) Handlungen hingeben, die von Leidenschaft und Eigennutz getrieben sind.“
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Honor is tied to steadfastness in dharmic conduct; deviation from one’s rightful discipline undermines worthiness. Even when treated well and respected, one should not respond by pursuing rājasa (passion-driven, egoistic) actions.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and right conduct, Parāśara delivers a moral judgment about who deserves respect and warns against adopting rājasa behavior even after receiving proper honor and good treatment.