Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 66
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
त्रैविद्यो ब्राह्मणो विद्वानू न चाध्ययनजीवक: । त्रिकर्मा त्रिपरिक्रान्तो मैत्र एष स्मृतो द्विज:
traividyo brāhmaṇo vidvān na cādhyayanajīvakaḥ | trikarmā triparikrānto maitra eṣa smṛto dvijaḥ ||
Mahādeva dit : On se souvient d’un homme comme d’un véritable brāhmaṇa—un « deux-fois-né » (dvija)—lorsqu’il est savant dans les trois Vedas, ne tire pas sa subsistance de l’enseignement ou de la récitation, accomplit sans cesse les trois devoirs sacrés (sacrifice, don et conduite juste), a dépassé les trois ennemis intérieurs (désir, colère et avidité) et garde un esprit d’amitié envers tous les êtres.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True brahminhood is characterized by Vedic learning joined to integrity: not commercializing sacred study, performing key dharmic duties (sacrifice, charity, righteous conduct), conquering desire-anger-greed, and cultivating friendliness toward all beings.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction-focused setting, Mahādeva speaks a normative definition of a brāhmaṇa, shifting emphasis from mere social label to ethical and spiritual qualifications.