Shloka 17
Utkramaṇa-sthāna and Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa: Yājñavalkya’s Instruction on Departure Pathways and Mortality Signs
निर्णयं चापि छिद्रात्मा न तं॑ वक्ष्यति तत्त्वतः । सोपहासात्मतामेति यस्माच्चैवात्मवानपि
nirṇayaṃ cāpi chidra-ātmā na taṃ vakṣyati tattvataḥ | sopahāsa-ātmatām eti yasmāc caivātmavān api ||
Wika ni Vasiṣṭha: “Ang taong may sirang pag-unawa ay hindi makapagsasabi nang tiyak ng tunay na diwa ng aral. Kahit siya’y masigla o may pagpipigil-sa-sarili, kapag nagsalita siya nang walang saligan ng kaalamang śāstra, nagiging tampulan siya ng panlilibak—sapagkat hindi tumatama ang kanyang mga salita sa tunay na prinsipyo.”
वसिष्ठ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Without śāstric grounding and clear discernment, one cannot determine or express the true purport (nirṇaya) of a text; speaking anyway leads to error and public ridicule, even if the speaker is otherwise confident.
In Śānti Parva’s instructional setting, Vasiṣṭha is advising about proper understanding and interpretation: he cautions that a person with defective insight cannot explain the truth of a doctrine and will be mocked if he speaks beyond his knowledge.