परिव्राजक-आचारः (Conduct of the Wandering Renunciant) — Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 269
शब्दब्रद्माणि निष्णात: परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति । शरीरमेतत् कुरुते यद् वेदे कुरुते तनुम्
śabda-brahmāṇi niṣṇātaḥ paraṁ brahmādhigacchati | śarīram etat kurute yad vede kurute tanum ||
ਜੋ ਸ਼ਬਦ-ਬ੍ਰਹਮ (ਵੇਦ) ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਪੁੰਨ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਪਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰ ਲੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ। ਵੇਦ-ਅਨੁਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੇ ਅੰਦਰਲੇ ਸਰੂਪ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਵੇਂ ਘੜਦਾ ਹੈ, ਓਸੇ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਇਹ ਦੇਹ-ਅਵਸਥਾ ਵੀ ਬਣਦੀ ਹੈ।
कपिल उवाच
Mastery of the Vedic word (śabda-brahman) is presented as a disciplined means that can culminate in realization of the Supreme Brahman; inner formation through sacred learning and practice shapes one’s embodied life and spiritual capacity.
In the Śānti Parva’s didactic setting, Kapila is teaching about the relation between Vedic sound/learning and ultimate realization, emphasizing that spiritual practice is not merely intellectual: it forms the practitioner’s very embodied condition and readiness for higher knowledge.