Shloka 29
Dāna-Śreṣṭhatā: Abhaya, Anugraha, and the Ethics of Honoring the Worthy (दानश्रेष्ठता: अभय-अनुग्रह-विप्रपूजा)
ब्राह्म॒ण्यं काड्क्षसे हि त्वं तपश्न पृथिवीपते । अवमन्य नरेन्द्रत्वं देवेन्द्रत्व॑ं च पार्थिव
brāhmaṇyaṁ kāṅkṣase hi tvaṁ tapaś ca pṛthivīpate | avamanya narendratvaṁ devendratvaṁ ca pārthiva ||
പൃഥ്വീനാഥാ! നരേന്ദ്രത്വവും ദേവേന്ദ്രത്വവും പോലും അവഗണിച്ച് നീ ബ്രാഹ്മണത്വം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു; തപസ്സിനോടും നിനക്കു മോഹമുണ്ട്.
च्यवन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical hierarchy of values: spiritual discipline (tapas) and the ideal of brahminhood—associated with self-control, learning, and inner authority—are presented as aspirations that can be valued even above worldly sovereignty and celestial power.
The sage Chyavana addresses a king, noting with emphasis that the king is seeking brahminhood and austerity while disregarding both ordinary kingship and even the exalted status of Indra—framing the king’s request as an extraordinary turn from power toward ascetic-spiritual aims.