Shloka 47
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
यथा षण्ढो5फल: स्त्रीषु यथा गौर्गवि चाफला । शकुनिर्वाप्यपक्ष: स्यान्निर्मन्त्रो ब्राह्मणस्तथा
yathā ṣaṇḍho’phalaḥ strīṣu yathā gaur gavi cāphalā | śakunir vāpy apakṣaḥ syān nirmantro brāhmaṇas tathā ||
ଯେପରି ନପୁଂସକ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ନିଷ୍ଫଳ, ଯେପରି ଗାଈ ସହ ଗାଈର ସଂଯୋଗ ନିଷ୍ଫଳ, ଏବଂ ଯେପରି ପଖା ନଥିବା ପକ୍ଷୀ ଉଡ଼ିପାରେ ନାହିଁ—ସେପରି ବେଦମନ୍ତ୍ରଜ୍ଞାନହୀନ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ମଧ୍ୟ ବ୍ୟର୍ଥ।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a role is meaningful only when supported by its defining competence: a brāhmaṇa’s purpose is tied to Vedic mantra-knowledge and practice; without it, the title becomes functionally empty—like other things lacking the capacity that makes them effective.
In the didactic flow of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa delivers a moral instruction using vivid analogies to stress that true worth in dharma depends on inner qualification and disciplined learning, not on external designation alone.