Shloka 8
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
यत् पृथिव्यां पुण्यतमं विद्यात् स्थानं तदावसेत् । यतेत तस्मिन् प्रामाण्यं गन्तुं यशसि चोत्तमे
yat pṛthivyāṃ puṇyatamaṃ vidyāt sthānaṃ tad āvaset | yateta tasmin prāmāṇyaṃ gantuṃ yaśasi cottame ||
या पृथ्वीवर जे स्थान त्याला सर्वाधिक पवित्र व श्रेष्ठ वाटेल, तेथेच निवास करावा. त्याच ठिकाणी राहून आचरणात प्रामाणिकता व अधिकार्यता प्राप्त करण्यासाठी आणि उत्तम यश मिळवण्यासाठी प्रयत्न करावा—आदर्श पुरुष होण्यासाठी.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Choose a place you truly regard as spiritually and ethically elevating, live there, and cultivate prāmāṇya—trustworthiness and moral authority—so that one’s reputation arises from exemplary conduct rather than mere display.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers practical guidance: residence in a recognized sacred/excellent place should support disciplined effort toward becoming a credible, ideal person and attaining the highest kind of honorable repute.