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 ।।
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.
Sinabi ni Parāśara: “O pinakamainam sa mga tao, dapat maghandog ng angkop na paglilingkod—bawat isa ayon sa nararapat—sa Apoy, sa Sarili, sa ina, sa amang nagluwal, at sa guro. Ang taong tumatalikod sa pagmamataas at naglilingkod sa matatanda, na marunong at malaya sa pagkakapit sa pagnanasa, na tumitingin sa lahat nang may mabuting kalooban, na walang mapanlinlang na pagkamakasarili, na nakatuon sa dharma at hindi nang-aapi o nananakit sa kapwa—ang gayong tao ay itinuturing na marangal sa mundong ito, at pinararangalan ng mga matuwid.”
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.