Shloka 12
उत्तद़्क उवाच प्राहुर्वाकुसंयतं विप्रं धर्मनैपुणदर्शिन: । मित्रेषु यश्चव विषम: स्तेन इत्येव तं विदु:,उत्तंकने कहा--राजन्! धर्मनिपुण विद्वानोंने उसीको ब्राह्मण कहा है, जो अपनी वाणीका संयम करता हो--सत्यवादी हो। जो मित्रोंक साथ विषमताका व्यवहार करता है, उसे चोर माना गया है
Uttaṅka uvāca: prāhur vāku-saṁyataṁ vipraṁ dharma-naipuṇa-darśinaḥ | mitreṣu yaś ca vai viṣamaḥ stena ity eva taṁ viduḥ ||
Uttaṅka said: “Those who are skilled in discerning dharma declare that a true brāhmaṇa is one who restrains his speech—one who is truthful and self-controlled in words. But whoever behaves with partiality and unfairness toward friends is known, indeed, as a thief.”
उत्तद़्क उवाच
Educational Q&A
True nobility (here, the mark of a brāhmaṇa) is ethical self-restraint in speech—truthful, disciplined words—while unfair, biased conduct even toward friends is condemned as theft of trust and righteousness.
Uttaṅka delivers a moral definition: he reports what dharma-experts say about who deserves the title ‘vipra’ and warns that partiality in dealing with friends is tantamount to being a ‘stena’ (thief).