Shloka 1436
Skanda–Mātṛgaṇa-janma: Kumārakāḥ, Kanyāgaṇāḥ, and the Vīrāṣṭaka (स्कन्द-मातृगण-सम्भवः)
त॑ ब्राह्मणमहं मन्ये वृत्तेन हि भवेद् द्विज: । इसके विपरीत जो शूद्र होकर भी (शम,) दम, सत्य तथा धर्मका पालन करनेके लिये सदा उद्यत रहता है, उसे मैं ब्राह्मण ही मानता हूँ; क्योंकि मनुष्य सदाचारसे ही द्विज होता है
taṁ brāhmaṇam ahaṁ manye vṛttena hi bhaved dvijaḥ | (viparītaṁ yaḥ śūdro 'pi śama-dama-satya-dharma-pālane sadodyataḥ, taṁ brāhmaṇam eva manye; manuṣyo sadācāreṇaiva dvijo bhavati.)
The Brahmin said: “I regard a man as a Brahmin because of his conduct; for it is by righteous living that one truly becomes ‘twice-born.’ Conversely, even if a person is born a Śūdra, if he is ever intent on practicing self-control, restraint, truthfulness, and dharma, I consider him a Brahmin—because it is ethical character alone that makes a person truly twice-born.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
True ‘Brahminhood’ and ‘twice-born’ status are grounded in vṛtta (ethical conduct)—self-control, restraint, truthfulness, and adherence to dharma—rather than merely in birth.
A Brahmin speaker delivers a moral judgment within a dharma-discussion, redefining social-religious status in terms of character: virtue can elevate, and lack of virtue can negate inherited rank.