Shloka 2
Brāhmaṇa-bheda-nirṇaya and Rājā’s Regulatory Duties (ब्राह्मणभेदनिर्णयः)
भीष्म उवाच विद्यालक्षणसम्पन्ना: सर्वत्र समदर्शिन: । एते ब्रह्मसमा राजन ब्राह्म॒णा: परिकीर्तिता:
bhīṣma uvāca
vidyā-lakṣaṇa-sampannāḥ sarvatra sama-darśinaḥ |
ete brahma-samā rājan brāhmaṇāḥ parikīrtitāḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O King, those Brahmins who are endowed with learning and the marks of true refinement, and who look upon all beings with equal vision, are proclaimed to be equal to Brahmā himself.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True greatness is defined not merely by birth or status but by learning joined with noble qualities and an equal, impartial vision toward all; such a person is honored as ‘Brahmā-like’.
In the Śānti Parva dialogue, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and social-ethical ideals, here describing the traits by which exemplary Brahmins are recognized and revered.