Shloka 38
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
न वाग्घीने विवर्णे वा नाड़हीने न वामने । न दुर्जने दौष्कुले वा व्रतैयों वा न संस्कृत: । नश्रोत्रियमृते दान ब्राह्मणे ब्रह्मवर्जिते
na vāg-hīne vivarṇe vā nāḍī-hīne na vāmane | na durjane dauṣkule vā vratāyyo vā na saṃskṛtaḥ | na śrotriyam ṛte dānaṃ brāhmaṇe brahma-varjite ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Huwag magbigay ng handog sa isang Brahmin na salat sa pananalita, o may anyong bumaba ang dangal, o kulang sa lakas-buhay, ni sa isang pandak; ni sa masama, sa may maruming angkan, sa hindi karapat-dapat sa mga panata at saṃskāra, o sa hindi nahubog ng disiplina at pag-aaral. Maliban sa isang tunay na śrotriya, hindi dapat magbigay sa Brahmin na walang brahman—ibig sabihin, salat sa kaalamang Veda at sa katapatan ng espiritu.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Charity (dāna) should be guided by discernment: the worthiness of the recipient is tied to character, discipline, and Vedic learning. A true śrotriya—one grounded in brahman (Vedic knowledge and integrity)—is presented as the proper recipient, while gifts to those lacking such qualities are discouraged.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-instructional setting, Vyāsa lays down criteria for appropriate recipients of gifts, emphasizing that mere social label (being called a Brahmin) is insufficient if one is ‘brahma-varjita’—devoid of the learning and conduct that define brahmanical excellence.