Shloka 83
Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa
Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment
ब्राह्मणानां महाराज चेष्टा संसिद्धिकारिका | महाराज! तप
vyāsa uvāca | brāhmaṇānāṃ mahārāja ceṣṭā saṃsiddhi-kārikā | tapaḥ yajñaḥ vidyā bhikṣā indriya-saṃyamaḥ dhyānam ekānta-vāsaḥ svabhāvaḥ santoṣaḥ yathā-śakti śāstra-jñānam—ete sarve guṇāś ca ceṣṭāś ca brāhmaṇebhyaḥ siddhi-pradāḥ |
व्यास उवाच—महाराज! ब्राह्मणानां चेष्टाः संसिद्धिकारिकाः। तपो यज्ञो विद्या भिक्षा इन्द्रियसंयमो ध्यानम् एकान्तवासप्रवृत्तिः सन्तोषो यथाशक्ति शास्त्रज्ञानं च—एते गुणाश्च चेष्टाश्च ब्राह्मणानां सिद्धिं जनयन्ति।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Vyāsa defines the Brahmin’s path to ‘siddhi’ (spiritual accomplishment) as a set of virtues and disciplines: austerity, sacrificial duty, learning, humble livelihood through alms, sense-restraint, meditation, solitude, contentment, and scriptural understanding suited to one’s capacity.
In the instruction-focused setting of the Śānti Parva, Vyāsa addresses the king and outlines the practices that characterize Brahmin conduct, presenting them as the means to inner success and stability in dharma.