Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 35
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
स वैश्य: क्षत्रियो जातो जन्मप्रभृति संस्कृत: । उपनीतो व्रतपरो द्विजो भवति सत्कृतः
sa vaiśyaḥ kṣatriyo jāto janmaprabhṛti saṃskṛtaḥ | upanīto vrataparo dvijo bhavati satkṛtaḥ ||
ਮਹਾਦੇਵ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਜੋ ਵੈਸ਼੍ਯ ਖ਼ਤਰੀ ਕੁਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਨਮ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਜਨਮ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਖ਼ਤਰੀਯੋਚਿਤ ਸੰਸਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸੰਸਕ੍ਰਿਤ ਹੋਵੇ, ਉਹ ਉਪਨਯਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਰਤ-ਪਾਲਨ (ਖ਼ਾਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਚਰਯ) ਵਿੱਚ ਤਤਪਰ ਰਹਿ ਕੇ ਸਭ ਥਾਂ ਸਤਕਾਰਯੋਗ ‘ਦ੍ਵਿਜ’ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ।
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that true qualification for the status and respect of a ‘dvija’ (and, by implication, for Kṣatriya responsibility) is grounded in proper संस्कार (formation/discipline), upanayana, and steadfast observance of vows—ethical training and conduct, not merely a label.
Śrī Maheśvara is describing the marks of a properly formed person fit for honoured social-religious standing: someone refined from birth by Kṣatriya discipline who, after upanayana, lives devoted to vows and thus becomes respected as a dvija.