Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35
Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma
बुद्धिमस्तु नराः श्रेष्टा नरेषु ब्राह्मणास्तथा । ब्राह्मणेषु च विद्वांसो विद्वत्सु कृतबुद्धयः ॥ ३५ ॥
buddhimastu narāḥ śreṣṭā nareṣu brāhmaṇāstathā | brāhmaṇeṣu ca vidvāṃso vidvatsu kṛtabuddhayaḥ || 35 ||
Parmi les êtres humains, les sages sont les meilleurs ; parmi les hommes, les brāhmanes sont pareillement au premier rang. Parmi les brāhmanes, les savants se distinguent ; et parmi les savants, sont suprêmes ceux dont l’intelligence est réellement cultivée et bien façonnée.
Narada (in an instructional discourse within Purva Bhaga)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It defines spiritual and social excellence not by birth or status alone, but by wisdom and the refinement of intellect—placing the highest value on disciplined understanding (kṛtabuddhi) that guides righteous living.
By praising cultivated intellect, it implies that devotion should be informed and steady—bhakti guided by discernment, scriptural understanding, and mature judgment rather than mere emotion or ritualism.
The verse points to the primacy of vidvat (true learning), which in practice is supported by Vedanga disciplines—especially Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and Śikṣā (phonetics)—that make study, teaching, and correct recitation meaningful and precise.