Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11
सर्वशिक्षा श्रुतिधना निपुणा मोक्षदर्शिन: । गतिज्ञा: सर्वभूतानामध्यात्मगतिचिन्तका:
sarvaśikṣā śrutidhanā nipuṇā mokṣadarśinaḥ | gatijñāḥ sarvabhūtānām adhyātmagaticintakāḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang mga Brahmana ang nagtuturo sa lahat ng wastong asal at pagkatuto. Ang Veda ang kanilang tunay na yaman. Dalubhasa sa mga disiplina ng banal na kaalaman, lagi nilang tinatanaw ang paglaya; nauunawaan nila ang mga hantungan ng lahat ng nilalang at walang humpay na nagbubulay sa panloob na landas ng Sarili.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines the ideal Brahmana by inner and outer qualifications: their true wealth is Vedic revelation (Śruti), they are competent in śāstra, they guide society through teaching, and their knowledge is ultimately oriented toward mokṣa and adhyātma—understanding the spiritual destiny (gati) of beings and reflecting on the Self’s path.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira on dharma. Here he characterizes Brahmanas—highlighting their social role as teachers and their spiritual role as contemplatives who keep liberation as the highest aim.