Shloka 35
Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga
Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda
निराशिषमनारम्भं निर्नमस्कारमस्तुतिम् | अक्षीणं क्षीणकर्माणं त॑ देवा ब्राह्म॒णं विदु:
nirāśiṣam anārambhaṁ nirnamaskāram astutim | akṣīṇaṁ kṣīṇakarmāṇaṁ taṁ devā brāhmaṇaṁ viduḥ ||
ଯାହାର ମନରେ କୌଣସି କାମନା ନାହିଁ, ଯେ ଫଳାଶାରେ କର୍ମ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରେ ନାହିଁ, ଯେ ନମସ୍କାର ଓ ସ୍ତୁତିର ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନରୁ ଦୂରେ ରହେ, ଯାହାର ଧର୍ମ ଅକ୍ଷୀଣ ଓ ଯାହାର କର୍ମବନ୍ଧନ କ୍ଷୀଣ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି—ଦେବତାମାନେ ସେଇ ପୁରୁଷକୁ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ବୋଲି ଜାଣନ୍ତି।
चुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
A brāhmaṇa is defined by inner qualities—desirelessness, non-attachment to results, freedom from honor-seeking rituals of praise and salutation, steadfast dharma, and the exhaustion of karmic bondage—rather than by birth, status, or outward display.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic dialogue, Chūlādhāra is instructing on ethical and spiritual criteria for true nobility. He reframes social identity (brāhmaṇa) as a moral-spiritual attainment recognized even by the gods.