Shloka 393
Adhyāya 42 — Mahābhūta–Indriya–Adhyātma-Vyavasthā
Brahmā’s Instruction on Elements and Faculties
जातस्याध्ययन पुण्यमिति वृद्धानुशासनम् | कर्मके अनेक भेद हैं
jātasya adhyayanaṁ puṇyam iti vṛddhānuśāsanam | karmake aneka bhedāḥ santi, teṣu pūjā dānaṁ ca yajñe havanaṁ ca—ete pradhānāḥ | vṛddha-puruṣāṇāṁ kathanaṁ yat dvija-kule utpannasya puruṣasya veda-adhyayanaṁ api puṇyasya karma |
वायुरुवाच—जातस्याध्ययनं पुण्यमिति वृद्धानुशासनम्। कर्मणो बहवो भेदाः; पूजादानयज्ञेषु हविर्दानं प्रधानम्। द्विजकुले जातस्य पुरुषस्य वेदानामध्ययनमपि पुण्यकर्मेति विद्वांसो मन्यन्ते।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse ranks key religious actions—worship, charity, and sacrificial oblations—as primary, while also affirming that for a twice-born person, disciplined Vedic study is itself a meritorious duty (puṇya-karma), validated by the authority of elders and tradition.
Vāyu-deva is speaking in an instructive mode, summarizing traditional ethical-religious guidance: he cites the elders’ teaching to define what counts as principal meritorious action and to emphasize the special dharma of Vedic study for those born in dvija lineages.