Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 383
Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
तप: कर्म च यत्पुण्यमित्येष विदुषां नयः । ब्राह्मणत्वका सनातन हेतु दो प्रकारका जानना चाहिये--तपस्या और पुण्यकर्मका अनुष्ठान; यही दिद्वानोंका निश्चय है
tapaḥ karma ca yat puṇyam ity eṣa viduṣāṃ nayaḥ | brāhmaṇatvasya sanātana-hetū dvau prakārāv iti jñātavyau ||
ਵਾਯੂ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਤਪ ਅਤੇ ਪੁੰਨ-ਕਰਮ ਦਾ ਆਚਰਨ—ਇਹੀ ਵਿਦਵਾਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਨਿਸ਼ਚਿਤ ਨਿਯਮ ਹੈ। ਜਾਣੋ ਕਿ ਸੱਚੇ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਤਵ ਦੇ ਸਨਾਤਨ ਕਾਰਣ ਦੋ ਹਨ: ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਅਤੇ ਪੁੰਨ-ਕਰਮ ਦਾ ਅਨੁਸ਼ਠਾਨ।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
True Brahminhood is grounded in two enduring supports: tapas (self-discipline and austerity) and puṇya-karma (the consistent performance of righteous, merit-producing actions). Wisdom is shown not merely by birth-claims but by cultivated conduct.
Vāyudeva delivers a concise doctrinal statement, framing a moral criterion for spiritual status: the wise recognize austerity and virtuous action as the defining foundations of a brāhmaṇa’s life.