Shloka 23
Vasiṣṭha on Saṃsāra, Guṇas, and Misattributed Agency
Mahābhārata 12.292
पुरुषसिंह! अग्नि, आत्मा, माता, जन्म देनेवाले पिता तथा गुरु--इन सबकी यथायोग्य सेवा करनी चाहिये ।। मान त्यक्त्वा यो नरो वृद्धसेवी विद्वान् क्लीब: पश्यति प्रीतियोगात् । दाक्ष्येण हीनो धर्मयुक्तो नदान्तो लोकेडस्मिन् वै पूज्यते सद्धरिरार्य:,जो अभिमानका त्याग करके वृद्ध पुरुषोंकी सेवा करता, विद्वान् एवं काम-भोगमें अनासक्त होकर सबको प्रेमभावसे देखता, मनमें चतुराई न रखकर धर्ममें संलग्न रहता और दूसरोंका दमन या हिंसा नहीं करता है, वह मनुष्य इस लोकमें श्रेष्ठ है तथा सत्पुरुष भी उसका आदर करते हैं
puruṣasiṃha! agniḥ, ātmā, mātā, janma-dātā pitā tathā guruḥ—eteṣāṃ sarveṣāṃ yathā-yogyaṃ sevā kartavyā. mānaṃ tyaktvā yo naro vṛddha-sevī vidvān klībaḥ paśyati prīti-yogāt; dākṣyeṇa hīno dharma-yukto na dāntaḥ loke'smin vai pūjyate sadbhir āryaḥ.
पराशर उवाच—नरशार्दूल! अग्निं चात्मानं मातरं जनकं गुरुम्। एतान् यथायोग्यं सेवेत यथातथम्॥ मानं त्यक्त्वा यो नरो वृद्धसेवी विद्वान् क्लीबः पश्यति प्रीतियोगात्। दाक्ष्येण हीनो धर्मयुक्तो न दान्तो लोकेऽस्मिन् वै पूज्यते सद्धरिरार्यः॥
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a hierarchy of reverence and ethical refinement: serve Fire (sacred duty), the Self (inner discipline), mother, father, and guru appropriately; abandon pride; honor elders; cultivate learning, freedom from sensual attachment, goodwill toward all, straightforwardness (not calculating cunning), commitment to dharma, and non-oppression. Such a person becomes truly noble and is honored by the virtuous.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, the sage Parāśara addresses a ‘best of men’ and lays down practical marks of an exemplary person—defined not by power or status but by service, humility, benevolence, and harmlessness—framing these as standards by which society rightly honors someone.