Shloka 4
कालनियमः शोकशमनं च
Kāla as Regulator; Pacification of Grief
ऋषीणां समयं शश्चद् ये रक्षन्ति धनंजय । अश्रिता: सर्वधर्मज्ञा देवास्तान् ब्राह्मणान् विदु:
ṛṣīṇāṃ samayaṃ śaśvad ye rakṣanti dhanaṃjaya | āśritāḥ sarvadharmajñā devās tān brāhmaṇān viduḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O Dhanañjaya, those who constantly uphold the covenant and discipline laid down by the seers—being sheltered by the gods and knowing all that pertains to dharma—are recognized by the gods themselves as true brāhmaṇas.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True brāhmaṇahood is defined ethically: those who steadfastly preserve the seers’ established rule (samaya) and embody comprehensive knowledge of dharma are acknowledged—even by the gods—as genuine brāhmaṇas.
Vaiśampāyana addresses Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) and characterizes the mark of a brāhmaṇa in terms of conduct and fidelity to the ṛṣis’ ordinance, situating social identity within dharmic responsibility rather than mere label.