Shloka 24
Ṛṣabhadeva Instructs His Sons: Tapasya, Mahātmā-Sevā, and Cutting the Heart-Knot
धृता तनूरुशती मे पुराणी येनेह सत्त्वं परमं पवित्रम् । शमो दम: सत्यमनुग्रहश्च तपस्तितिक्षानुभवश्च यत्र ॥ २४ ॥
dhṛtā tanūr uśatī me purāṇī yeneha sattvaṁ paramaṁ pavitram śamo damaḥ satyam anugrahaś ca tapas titikṣānubhavaś ca yatra
నా పురాతనమైన, ప్రకాశించే దేహరూప వాణియే వేదము; అందులో పరమ పవిత్ర సత్త్వం నిలిచిఉంది. బ్రాహ్మణులలో శమం, దమం, సత్యం, అనుగ్రహం, తపస్సు, తితిక్ష, జీవ-ఈశ్వరానుభవం—ఈ గుణాలు ప్రకాశిస్తాయి.
This is a true description of a brāhmaṇa. A brāhmaṇa is one who has assimilated the Vedic conclusions by practicing mind and sense control. He speaks the true version of all the Vedas. As confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) : vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ. By studying all the Vedas, one should come to understand the transcendental position of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. One who actually assimilated the essence of the Vedas can preach the truth. He is compassionate to conditioned souls who are suffering the threefold miseries of this conditional world due to their not being Kṛṣṇa conscious. A brāhmaṇa should take pity on the people and preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness in order to elevate them. Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, personally descends into this universe from the spiritual kingdom to teach conditioned souls about the values of spiritual life. He tries to induce them to surrender unto Him. Similarly, the brāhmaṇas do the same thing. After assimilating the Vedic instructions, they assist the Supreme Lord in His endeavor to deliver conditioned souls. The brāhmaṇas are very dear to the Supreme Lord due to their high sattva-guṇa qualities, and they also engage in welfare activities for all conditioned souls in the material world.
FAQs
This verse teaches that pure goodness is supported by inner virtues—tranquility (śama), sense-control (dama), truth (satya), compassion (anugraha), austerity (tapas), tolerance (titikṣā), and realized experience (anubhava).
Ṛṣabhadeva is instructing his sons by personal example, explaining that he accepts hardship and bodily decline to establish the highest purity and demonstrate the virtues required for spiritual advancement.
By regulating habits, reducing impulsive consumption, speaking truthfully, practicing compassion, and maintaining steady spiritual discipline—these cultivate calmness and self-mastery, aligning life with sattva as described in this shloka.