Shloka 111
चतुर्वेदो<पि दुर्वत्त: स शूद्रादतिरिच्यते । योडग्निहोत्रपरो दान्तः स ब्राह्मण इति स्मृत:
caturvedo 'pi durvṛttaḥ sa śūdrād atiricyate | yo 'gnīhotraparo dāntaḥ sa brāhmaṇa iti smṛtaḥ ||
ଚାରି ବେଦରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯଦି କାହାର ଆଚାର ଦୁଷ୍ଟ, ତେବେ ସେ ଶୂଦ୍ରଠାରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଧମ ଗଣାଯାଏ। କିନ୍ତୁ ଯେ ଅଗ୍ନିହୋତ୍ରରେ ନିଷ୍ଠାବାନ, ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟଦମନଶୀଳ ଓ ଶିଷ୍ଟ—ସେଇ ‘ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ’ ବୋଲି ସ୍ମୃତି କହେ।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prioritizes character and disciplined practice over mere scriptural learning: Vedic mastery without good conduct is spiritually hollow, while devotion to duty (Agnihotra) and self-restraint mark one as truly ‘Brāhmaṇa’ in the ethical sense.
In the Vana Parva’s dharma-discussions, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a criterion for religious and social worth: he contrasts a learned but immoral person with a disciplined practitioner, emphasizing that dharma is measured by conduct and restraint.