Shloka 5
Adhyāya 122 — Śruta-vṛtta-yukta Brāhmaṇa and the Ethics of Dāna
Maitreya–Vyāsa Saṃvāda
वाग्बुद्धिपाणिपादैश्व व्यपेतस्य विपश्चित: । कि हास्यति मनुष्यस्य मन्दस्यापि हि जीवत:
vāgbuddhipāṇipādaiś ca vyapetasya vipaścitaḥ | kiṃ hāsyati manuṣyasya mandasyāpi hi jīvataḥ ||
వ్యాసుడు పలికెను—మనిషి జ్ఞానివైనా, వాక్కు, బుద్ధి, చేతులు-కాళ్ల వినియోగం లేక జీవించి ఉంటే, అతడు ఏమి సాధించగలడు? మాంద్యబుద్ధి గలవాడైనా, ఇవి ఉన్నంతవరకు జీవించి ఉండగా కనీసం ఏదో ఒక కార్యం చేయగలడు.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wisdom alone is not sufficient for effective living; human agency depends on functional faculties—speech, discernment, and bodily capacity. The verse stresses the ethical importance of practical capability: without the means to act, even a wise person cannot fulfill duties, whereas even limited intellect can still manage life when the instruments of action remain.
Vyāsa is making a reflective point within Anuśāsana-parvan’s instruction-oriented discourse: he contrasts a wise person rendered powerless by loss of key faculties with an ordinary or dull person who can still function. The statement supports a broader didactic argument about the conditions required to practice dharma and carry out responsibilities.