Shloka 30
सर्प उवाच यदि ते वृत्ततो राजन ब्राह्मण: प्रसमीक्षित: । वृथा जातिस्तदा<<युष्मन् कृतियविन्न विद्यते,सर्प बोला--आयुष्मन् नरेश! यदि आचारसे ही ब्राह्मणकी परीक्षा की जाय, तब तो जबतक उसके अनुसार कर्म न हो जाति व्यर्थ ही है
sarpa uvāca yadi te vṛttato rājan brāhmaṇaḥ prasamīkṣitaḥ | vṛthā jātis tadāyusman kṛtiyavinna vidyate ||
A serpente disse: “Ó rei, se um brâmane deve ser julgado apenas pela conduta, então — ó nobre — o nascimento torna-se sem sentido, se não for acompanhado de feitos condizentes com essa conduta.”
सर्प उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues that social identity by birth (jāti) is empty if it is not supported by right conduct and corresponding deeds; ethical behavior is the true measure.
A serpent addresses a king and challenges him to evaluate Brahminhood by behavior, asserting that mere birth-status is futile without actions consistent with that standard.