Shloka 50
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत शल्यपर्वके अन्तर्गत गदापव॑नें बलदेवजीकी तीर्थयात्राके प्रसंगमें सारस्वतोपाख्यानविषयक पचासवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,ऋषयश्षक्रिरे धर्म योडनूचान: स नो महान् | “न बहुत वर्षोकी अवस्था होनेसे, न बाल पकनेसे, न धनसे और न अधिक भाई- बन्धुओंसे कोई बड़ा होता है। ऋषियोंने हमारे लिये यही धर्म निश्चित किया है कि हममेंसे जो वेदोंका प्रवचन कर सके, वही महान् है” ।। एतच्छुत्वा वचस्तस्य मुनयस्ते विधानत:
ṛṣayaś cakrire dharmaṃ yo ’dhītya anūcānaḥ sa no mahān | na bahu-varṣāvasthayā na keśa-pākāt na dhanena na ca bahubhir bhrātṛ-bandhubhiḥ kaścid mahān bhavati | ṛṣibhir asmākam etad eva dharma-niścitaṃ yat asmāsu yo vedān pravacituṃ śaknoti sa eva mahān iti || etac chrutvā vacas tasya munayas te vidhānataḥ |
The sages laid down this rule of dharma for us: “He alone is truly great among us who has mastered the Vedas and can teach them. Greatness does not come from many years of age, nor from grey hair, nor from wealth, nor from having many brothers and kinsmen.” Hearing these words, the sages accepted them in due order and according to proper procedure.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True greatness is measured by learning and the capacity to transmit sacred knowledge—especially the ability to expound the Vedas—not by age, outward signs of seniority, wealth, or social backing through many relatives.
Within the Sarasvata-upākhyāna context, a normative statement about dharma is voiced and then heard and accepted by the assembled sages, indicating communal validation of an ethical standard grounded in learning and teaching.