Shloka 37
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
दद्याद् वापि यथाशक्ति त॑ देवा ब्राह्मणं विदु: । जो पढ़े और पढ़ाये, यज्ञ करे और कराये तथा यथाशक्ति दान दे, उसे देवतालोग ब्राह्मण कहते हैं ।। ब्रह्मचारी वदान्यो योडधीयीत द्विजपुड़व:
dadyād vāpi yathāśakti taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ | brahmacārī vadānyo yo ’dhīyīta dvijapuṅgavaḥ ||
The brāhmaṇa said: “Even giving according to one’s capacity is a mark of true worth; the gods recognize as a brāhmaṇa the one who, living with disciplined conduct, is generous, and applies himself to sacred study. Such a person—foremost among the twice-born—upholds the standard of brahminhood through learning, self-restraint, and charity.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Brahminhood is defined by conduct: disciplined life (brahmacarya/self-restraint), commitment to sacred learning, and generosity—especially giving according to one’s means (yathāśakti dāna). Divine approval is tied to ethical practice, not mere birth or status.
A brāhmaṇa speaker is describing the qualities by which the gods themselves recognize someone as a true brāhmaṇa, emphasizing study, disciplined conduct, and charitable giving as the practical markers of dharma.