Shloka 21
अध्याय २९७ — श्रेयः, धृति, दान-नियमाः
Welfare, Steadfastness, and Norms of Giving
द्विपदानामपि तथा द्विजा वै परमा: स्मृता: । द्विजानामपि राजेन्द्र प्रज्ञावन्त: परा मता: | प्राज्ञानामात्मसम्बुद्धा: सम्बुद्धानाममानिन:
dvipadānām api tathā dvijā vai paramāḥ smṛtāḥ | dvijānām api rājendra prajñāvantaḥ parā matāḥ | prājñānām ātma-sambuddhāḥ sambuddhānām amāninaḥ |
द्विपद प्राण्यांमध्ये द्विज श्रेष्ठ मानले गेले आहेत. राजेंद्र! द्विजांमध्ये ज्ञानी श्रेष्ठ; ज्ञानींमध्ये आत्मबोध प्राप्त केलेले अधिक श्रेष्ठ; आणि आत्मबोध प्राप्तांमध्ये जे अहंकाररहित आहेत, तेच सर्वश्रेष्ठ मानले जातात.
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
A graded ideal of excellence is presented: social status is surpassed by wisdom, wisdom by Self-realization, and Self-realization is crowned by humility—freedom from ego is portrayed as the highest virtue.
Parāśara addresses a king (rājendra) and instructs him on true superiority, shifting the focus from birth-based rank to inner qualities—discernment, realization of the Self, and especially the absence of pride.