Shloka 71
ब्रह्मोवाच तपोविशिष्टादपि वै विशिष्टान्मुनिसंचयात् । मन्ये श्रेष्ठतरं त्वां वै रहस्यज्ञानवेदनात्,ब्रह्माजीने कहा--व्यासजी! संसारमें विशिष्ट तपस्या और विशिष्ट कुलके कारण जितने भी श्रेष्ठ ऋषि-मुनि हैं, उनमें मैं तुम्हें सर्वश्रेष्ठ समझता हूँ; क्योंकि तुम जगत्, जीव और ईश्वर-तत्त्वका जो ज्ञान है, उसके ज्ञाता हो
brahmovāca tapoviśiṣṭād api vai viśiṣṭān munisaṃcayāt | manye śreṣṭhataraṃ tvāṃ vai rahasyajñānavedanāt ||
Brahmā said: “O Vyāsa, even among the gathered sages who are eminent for exceptional austerity and distinguished lineage, I regard you as the foremost—because you are a knower of the secret, profound knowledge of reality: the principles of the world, the individual self, and the Lord.”
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates inner, transformative knowledge (rahasya-jñāna—insight into the nature of world, self, and the Lord) above external markers of greatness such as austerity or noble lineage, presenting true spiritual authority as grounded in realized understanding.
Brahmā addresses Vyāsa and publicly acknowledges him as the foremost among the assembled sages, giving the reason that Vyāsa possesses profound, esoteric knowledge of ultimate principles.