Shloka 21
Śīla-prāpti and Śīla-lakṣaṇa (शीलप्राप्ति-शीललक्षणम्) | On the Acquisition and Marks of Character
महामना भवेद् धर्मे विवहेच्च महाकुले । ब्राह्मणांश्वापि सेवेत क्षमायुक्तान् मनस्विन:
mahāmanā bhaved dharme vivahec ca mahākule | brāhmaṇāṁś cāpi seveta kṣamāyuktān manasvinaḥ ||
Kāmandaka said: “Let a man be high-minded in matters of dharma; let him contract marriage into a noble lineage; and let him also attend upon and honor Brahmins—those who are self-possessed, strong in spirit, and endowed with forbearance.”
कामन्दक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Cultivate nobility of mind grounded in dharma, form alliances through marriage with reputable lineages, and seek guidance by honoring Brahmins who embody patience and inner strength—linking personal virtue, social stability, and wise counsel.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, Kāmandaka offers practical ethical counsel: how a person—especially one concerned with right governance and conduct—should shape character, choose marital ties, and relate to learned, forbearant Brahmins as sources of guidance and moral authority.