Shloka 13
सूक्ष्मभूत-भूतात्मविज्ञानम्
Knowing the subtle principle and the bhūtātman through yoga
अहेरिव गणादू् भीत: सौहित्यान्नरकादिव । कुणपादिव च स्त्रीभ्यस्तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदु:
aher iva gaṇād bhītaḥ sauhityān narakād iva | kuṇapād iva ca strībhyaḥ taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Kinikilala ng mga diyos bilang tunay na brāhmaṇa (nakakakilala sa Brahman) ang taong natatakot sa karamihan na parang sa ahas; umiiwas sa kasiyahang dulot ng masasarap at marangyang pagkain na parang umiiwas sa impiyerno; at tumatalikod sa mga babae na parang tumatalikod sa isang bangkay—namumuhay sa pagpipigil at pagkalas sa pagnanasa.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises radical restraint: avoiding the dangers of social entanglement (crowds), resisting sensual gratification (rich food and satiety), and cultivating dispassion toward sexual attraction—presented as marks of an ideal brāhmaṇa, i.e., one oriented to Brahman rather than pleasure.
In the didactic setting of Śānti Parva, Vyāsa states a criterion by which the gods themselves ‘recognize’ a true brāhmaṇa: a person whose conduct shows fear of worldly snares and strong renunciation, expressed through vivid similes (snake, hell, corpse).