Shloka 17
Utkramaṇa-sthāna and Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa: Yājñavalkya’s Instruction on Departure Pathways and Mortality Signs
निर्णयं चापि छिद्रात्मा न तं॑ वक्ष्यति तत्त्वतः । सोपहासात्मतामेति यस्माच्चैवात्मवानपि,जिसका चित्त शास्त्रज्ञानसे शून्य है, वह ग्रन्थके तात्पर्यका ठीक-ठीक निर्णय कर ही नहीं सकता। यदि वह कुछ कहता है तो मनस्वी होनेपर भी लोगोंके उपहासका पात्र बनता है
nirṇayaṃ cāpi chidra-ātmā na taṃ vakṣyati tattvataḥ | sopahāsa-ātmatām eti yasmāc caivātmavān api ||
Vasiṣṭha disse: “Aquele cujo entendimento é falho não consegue enunciar com certeza o verdadeiro sentido. Ainda que seja animoso ou senhor de si, ao falar sem o alicerce do conhecimento dos śāstra torna-se objeto de escárnio—pois suas palavras não alcançam o princípio real.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Without śāstric grounding and clear discernment, one cannot determine or express the true purport (nirṇaya) of a text; speaking anyway leads to error and public ridicule, even if the speaker is otherwise confident.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Vasiṣṭha is advising about proper understanding and interpretation: he cautions that a person with defective insight cannot explain the truth of a doctrine and will be mocked if he speaks beyond his knowledge.