Shloka 12
येन केनचिदाच्छन्नो येन केनचिदाशित: । यत्र क्वचन शायी च त॑ देवा ब्राह्मणं विदु:,जो जिस किसी भी (वस्त्र-वल्कल आदि) वस्तुसे अपना शरीर ढक लेता है, समयपर जो भी रूखा-सूखा मिल जाय, उसीसे भूख मिटा लेता है और जहाँ कहीं भी सो रहता है, उसे देवता ब्रह्मज्ञानी समझते हैं
yena kenacid ācchanno yena kenacid āśitaḥ | yatra kvacana śāyī ca taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ ||
Vyāsa said: He who covers his body with whatever he happens to obtain, who eats whatever comes to him in due course, and who lies down to sleep wherever he may be—such a person the gods recognize as a true brāhmaṇa, a knower of Brahman.
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.