चतुर्वेदो<पि दुर्वत्त: स शूद्रादतिरिच्यते । योडग्निहोत्रपरो दान्तः स ब्राह्मण इति स्मृत:
caturvedo 'pi durvṛttaḥ sa śūdrād atiricyate | yo 'gnīhotraparo dāntaḥ sa brāhmaṇa iti smṛtaḥ ||
ユディシュティラは言った。「たとえ四ヴェーダを究めていても、行いが邪であれば、シュードラ(Śūdra)に勝るものとは数えられぬ。だがアグニホートラ(Agnihotra)に励み、自制し、鍛錬ある者—その者こそ真のブラーフマナとして記憶される。」
युधिछिर उवाच
The verse prioritizes character and disciplined practice over mere scriptural learning: Vedic mastery without good conduct is spiritually hollow, while devotion to duty (Agnihotra) and self-restraint mark one as truly ‘Brāhmaṇa’ in the ethical sense.
In the Vana Parva’s dharma-discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a criterion for religious and social worth: he contrasts a learned but immoral person with a disciplined practitioner, emphasizing that dharma is measured by conduct and restraint.