Shloka 16
अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
प्रज्ञासम्भावितो नूनमप्रजञ्जैरुपसंहित: । हीयमानो$सि दुर्वत्तैस्तेनासि हरिण: कृश:
prajñāsambhāvito nūnam aprajñajñair upasaṁhitaḥ | hīyamāno 'si durvṛttais tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ||
ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ କହିଲେ—“ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ତୁମେ ନିଜ ପ୍ରଜ୍ଞାରେ ସମ୍ମାନଯୋଗ୍ୟ; କିନ୍ତୁ ତୁମେ ଅପ୍ରାଜ୍ଞମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଘେରାଯାଇଛ। ଦୁର୍ବୃତ୍ତମାନଙ୍କ ତିରସ୍କାରରେ ତୁମେ ନିତ୍ୟ କ୍ଷୀଣ ହେଉଛ; ସେଇ ଚିନ୍ତାରୁ ତୁମେ ହରିଣ ପରି କୃଶ ଓ ଫିକା ହୋଇପଡ଼ିଛ।”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
True worth (prajñā) may be ignored or mocked by the ignorant and the immoral; one should recognize that social contempt can cause inner distress and physical decline, and thus cultivate steadiness rather than being consumed by others’ judgments.
A Brāhmaṇa addresses someone of evident intelligence, observing that despite being deserving of respect, he is ridiculed by the unwise and slighted by the wicked; the speaker explains the person’s deer-like thinness as the result of worry and humiliation.