Shloka 9
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
वेदाध्यायी धर्मपर: कुले जातो मनस्विनि । स्थविरेषु स योक्तव्यो राजर्षिर्धर्मचारिभि:,मनस्विनि! जो वेदका अध्ययन करनेवाला, धर्मपरायण और कुलीन हो, उस राजर्षिकी गणना धर्मात्मा पुरुषोंको वृद्धोंमें करनी चाहिये (वह आयुमें छोटा हो तो भी उसका वृद्ध पुरुषके समान आदर करना चाहिये)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | vedādhyāyī dharmaparaḥ kule jāto manasvini | sthavireṣu sa yoktavyo rājarṣir dharmacāribhiḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O noble-minded lady, one who studies the Veda, is devoted to dharma, and is born in a good lineage—such a royal sage should be counted among the elders by righteous people. Even if he is younger in years, he deserves the honor accorded to the aged.”
युधिछिर उवाच