Shloka 10
Sāttvika-vṛtta-kathana (Brahmā on the Conduct of Sattva) — Chapter 38
एवंवृत्तास्तु ये केचिल्लोके5स्मिन् सत्त्वसंश्रया: | ब्राह्मणा ब्रह्म॒योनिस्थास्ते धीरा: साधुदर्शिन:,सकाम दान, यज्ञ, अध्ययन, व्रत, परिग्रह, धर्म और तप--ये सब व्यर्थ हैं--ऐसा समझकर जो उपर्युक्त बर्तावका पालन करते हुए इस जगत्में सत्यका आश्रय लेते हैं और वेदकी उत्पत्तिके स्थानभूत परब्रह्म परमात्मामें निष्ठा रखते हैं, वे ब्राह्मण ही धीर और साधुदर्शी माने गये हैं
evaṁvṛttās tu ye kecil loke 'smin sattvasaṁśrayāḥ | brāhmaṇā brahmayonisthās te dhīrāḥ sādhudarśinaḥ ||
Vāyu said: “Those, in this world, who live in such a manner—taking refuge in truth and purity of being—and who, as Brahmins, remain firmly established in the Supreme Brahman, the very source from which the Veda arises: they alone are regarded as steadfast and clear-sighted. Having understood that acts pursued with desire—such as giving, sacrifice, study, vows, acquisition, conventional righteousness, and austerity—are futile when driven by craving, they uphold the higher conduct rooted in truth and Brahman-realization.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True wisdom is defined not by desire-driven religious acts, but by conduct rooted in truth (satya/sattva) and steady establishment in Brahman, the ultimate source of the Veda. Such persons are called dhīra (steadfast) and sādhudarśin (right-seeing).
Vāyudeva is instructing the listener about the marks of a genuinely wise Brahmin: one who follows a higher mode of life grounded in truth and Brahman-realization, rather than being motivated by craving for results from charity, sacrifice, study, vows, possessions, or austerities.