Shloka 111
चतुर्वेदो<पि दुर्वत्त: स शूद्रादतिरिच्यते । योडग्निहोत्रपरो दान्तः स ब्राह्मण इति स्मृत:
caturvedo 'pi durvṛttaḥ sa śūdrād atiricyate | yo 'gnīhotraparo dāntaḥ sa brāhmaṇa iti smṛtaḥ ||
Yudhiṣṭhira dit : «Même celui qui a maîtrisé les quatre Veda, si sa conduite est corrompue, n’est tenu pour rien de meilleur qu’un Śūdra. Mais celui qui se voue à l’Agnihotra, qui se maîtrise et se discipline, celui-là est reconnu comme un véritable Brāhmaṇa.»
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes character and disciplined practice over mere scriptural learning: Vedic mastery without good conduct is spiritually hollow, while devotion to duty (Agnihotra) and self-restraint mark one as truly ‘Brāhmaṇa’ in the ethical sense.
In the Vana Parva’s dharma-discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a criterion for religious and social worth: he contrasts a learned but immoral person with a disciplined practitioner, emphasizing that dharma is measured by conduct and restraint.