Shloka 12
सूक्ष्मभूत-भूतात्मविज्ञानम्
Knowing the subtle principle and the bhūtātman through yoga
येन केनचिदाच्छन्नो येन केनचिदाशित: । यत्र क्वचन शायी च त॑ देवा ब्राह्मणं विदु:
yena kenacid ācchanno yena kenacid āśitaḥ | yatra kvacana śāyī ca taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ ||
જે જે કંઈ મળે તેનાથી શરીર ઢાંકી લે છે, સમયસર જે રૂખું-સૂકું મળે તે જ ખાઈ તૃપ્ત થાય છે, અને જ્યાં ક્યાંય પણ સૂઈ રહે છે—તેને જ દેવતાઓ બ્રાહ્મણ (બ્રહ્મજ્ઞાની) માને છે।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A true brāhmaṇa is identified by inner realization and non-attachment: accepting any clothing, any simple food that comes in time, and any place to sleep, without craving or pride. Such contentment and freedom from dependence on comforts is presented as a sign of Brahman-knowledge.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and the qualities of the spiritually accomplished, Vyāsa describes the conduct of an ideal renunciant/wise person. The verse functions as a criterion: the gods themselves ‘recognize’ such a person as a true brāhmaṇa.