Shloka 17
भिक्षुलक्षणम्—एकचर्याः, अहिंसा, कैवल्याश्रमः
Marks of the Mendicant: Solitary Wandering, Non-Injury, and the Kaivalya-Discipline
धर्मज्ञानि द्वयान्याहुवेंदज्ञानीतराणि च । वेदज्ञानि विशिष्टानि वेदो होषु प्रतिष्ठित:,धर्मज्ञोंके भी दो भेद कहे गये हैं--वेदज्ञ और अवेदज्ञ। इनमें वेदज्ञ श्रेष्ठ हैं; क्योंकि उन्हींमें वेद प्रतिष्ठित है
dharmajñānī dvayāny āhur vedajñānītarāṇi ca | vedajñānī viśiṣṭāni vedo hy eṣu pratiṣṭhitaḥ ||
Vyāsa dit : «Ceux qui connaissent le dharma sont dits de deux sortes : ceux qui connaissent le Veda et ceux qui ne le connaissent pas. Parmi eux, les connaisseurs du Veda sont supérieurs, car le Veda est solidement établi en eux.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma-knowledge is classified into two types: with Vedic grounding and without it. The verse asserts that Veda-grounded understanding is superior because the Veda, as a foundational authority for dharma, is established in such persons.
In the Śānti Parva’s instructional discourse, Vyāsa lays down a criterion for evaluating claims to dharma-knowledge, distinguishing Veda-knowers from others and ranking the former higher due to their scriptural foundation.