Shloka 19
अध्यात्म-तत्त्व-निर्णयः
Adhyātma Taxonomy: Elements, Faculties, and Guṇas
विद्याभिजनसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि । शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिता: समदर्शिन:
vidyābhijanasampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini | śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāḥ samadarśinaḥ ||
Vyāsa teaches that the truly wise maintain an equal vision: they recognize the same spiritual reality in a learned and well-born brāhmaṇa, and likewise in a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even a dog-eater (outcaste). Ethical discernment, therefore, is not grounded in social rank or species, but in seeing the one Self present in all beings and responding without contempt or partiality.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The core teaching is samadarśitva—equal spiritual vision: the wise perceive the same Self/Brahman in all beings, regardless of learning, birth, or social status, and therefore avoid contempt, prejudice, and partiality.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and inner peace, Vyāsa states a principle of true wisdom: a paṇḍita’s insight is shown by impartial perception across human and non-human beings, including those socially marginalized.