Mahabharata — Vana Parva, Shloka 89
Dharma-vyādha’s Analysis of Moral Decline and the Mahābhūta–Guṇa Schema (धर्मव्याधोपदेशः)
यथा श्मशाने दीप्तौजा: पावको नैव दुष्यति । एवं विद्वानविद्दान् वा ब्राह्मणो दैवतं महत्
yathā śmaśāne dīptaujāḥ pāvako naiva duṣyati | evaṃ vidvān avidvān vā brāhmaṇo daivataṃ mahat ||
ਜਿਵੇਂ ਸ਼ਮਸ਼ਾਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੀ ਧਧਕਦੀ ਅੱਗ ਮੈਲੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਹੀ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣ ਵਿਦਵਾਨ ਹੋਵੇ ਜਾਂ ਅਵਿਦਵਾਨ—ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਮਹਾਨ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਸਮਾਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਨਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a brāhmaṇa is to be honored as inherently venerable—like fire that remains pure even in a cremation ground—so one should not withdraw respect based on external setting or perceived lack of learning.
Yudhiṣṭhira states a dharma-principle using a vivid simile: fire’s purity is unaffected by the cremation ground, and similarly the social-religious status of a brāhmaṇa warrants reverence whether he is learned or not.
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