Shloka 24
पात्रलक्षण-परिक्षा (Pātra-Lakṣaṇa Parīkṣā) — Criteria for a Worthy Recipient
ब्राह्मणं जातिसम्पन्नं धर्मज्ञं संशितं शुचिम् । अपरेषां परेषां च परेभ्यश्रैव येडपरे
brāhmaṇaṁ jātisampannaṁ dharmajñaṁ saṁśitaṁ śucim | apareṣāṁ pareṣāṁ ca parebhyaś caiva ye ’pare ||
Vāyu dit : «Il faut souhaiter la naissance (et la présence) d’un brāhmaṇa de noble origine, connaisseur du dharma, discipliné et pur. Parmi les “inférieurs” et les “supérieurs”, et même parmi ceux qui sont plus élevés encore, les brāhmaṇas sont tenus pour plus élevés. Celui que de tels brāhmaṇas louent prospère ; mais celui qui blâme les brāhmaṇas rencontre bientôt la défaite.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that society should value and support disciplined, pure, dharma-knowing Brahmins, and that honoring such learned and virtuous people leads to prosperity, while disparaging them leads to swift decline.
Vāyu is speaking in a didactic context, emphasizing the superior esteem accorded to Brahmins and the practical consequences—growth through their approval and defeat through their condemnation—thereby reinforcing norms of reverence toward dharma-authorities.