Shloka 46
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
यथा दारुमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः । ब्राह्मणश्वानधीयानस्त्रयस्ते नाम बिभ्रति
yathā dārumayo hastī yathā carmamayo mṛgaḥ | brāhmaṇaś cānadhīyānas trayas te nāma bibhrati ||
മരത്തിൽ 만든 ആനയും, തൊലിയിൽ 만든 മൃഗവും എങ്ങനെ വെറും അനുകൃതികളോ, അതുപോലെ വേദശാസ്ത്രാധ്യയനമില്ലാത്ത ബ്രാഹ്മണനും. ഈ മൂന്നും പേരെ മാത്രം വഹിക്കുന്നു; യാഥാർത്ഥ്യം അല്ല.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A title or social identity has value only when supported by the corresponding discipline and conduct. Without adhyayana (Vedic/śāstric study and the life of learning it implies), the label 'brāhmaṇa' becomes a mere name—like lifeless replicas that resemble an animal but lack its living reality.
Vyāsa delivers a didactic comparison in the Śānti Parva, using vivid examples (a wooden elephant and a leather deer) to criticize hollow appearances and to stress that true status in dharma is grounded in learning and practice, not in name alone.