Shloka 23

जो सब प्रकारकी आसक्तियोंसे छूटकर मुनिवृत्तिसे रहता है, आकाशकी भाँति निर्लेप और स्थिर है, किसी भी वस्तुको अपनी नहीं मानता, एकाकी विचरता और शान्तभावसे रहता है, उसे देवता ब्रह्मवेत्ता मानते हैं ।। जीवितं यस्य धर्मार्थ धर्मो हर्यर्थमेव च । अहोगात्राश्न पुण्यार्थ त॑ देवा ब्राह्मणं विदु:

jīvitaṁ yasya dharmārthaṁ dharmo haryartham eva ca | aho gātrāśanaṁ puṇyārthaṁ taṁ devā brāhmaṇaṁ viduḥ ||

Vyāsa disse: Aquele cuja própria vida é para o dharma, cujo dharma se dirige unicamente a Hari, e que considera até a sustentação do corpo por meio do alimento como um ato feito apenas por mérito—esse os deuses reconhecem como um verdadeiro brāhmaṇa, conhecedor de Brahman: desapegado, sem posses, solitário e sereno como o céu.

जीवितम्life; livelihood
जीवितम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootजीवित (प्रातिपदिक; √जीव् से निष्पन्न)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
यस्यwhose
यस्य:
Adhikarana
TypePronoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
धर्मार्थम्for the sake of dharma
धर्मार्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootधर्मार्थ (धर्म + अर्थ)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
धर्मःdharma; righteousness
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
हर्यर्थम्for the sake of Hari (God)
हर्यर्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहर्यर्थ (हरि + अर्थ)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एवonly; indeed
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अहोगात्राश्नone who eats only to sustain the body for a day (bare subsistence)
अहोगात्राश्न:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअहोगात्राशिन् (अहः + गात्र + आशिन्)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पुण्यार्थम्for the sake of merit
पुण्यार्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्यार्थ (पुण्य + अर्थ)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तम्him
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
देवाःthe gods
देवाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदेव
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
ब्राह्मणम्a brahmin; a true Brahmana
ब्राह्मणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
विदुःknow; regard
विदुः:
TypeVerb
Root√विद् (जानने)
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Plural

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
H
Hari (Viṣṇu)
D
Devas (gods)
B
Brāhmaṇa (ideal spiritual person)

Educational Q&A

A truly realized person lives for dharma, dedicates dharma itself to Hari, and treats bodily maintenance (like eating) as a minimal, merit-oriented necessity—signifying deep detachment, serenity, and spiritual knowledge.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and right living, Vyāsa describes the marks of an ideal brāhmaṇa/Brahmavid—one recognized even by the gods—emphasizing renunciation, devotion, and disciplined simplicity.