Shloka 46
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
यथा दारुमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः । ब्राह्मणश्वानधीयानस्त्रयस्ते नाम बिभ्रति
yathā dārumayo hastī yathā carmamayo mṛgaḥ | brāhmaṇaś cānadhīyānas trayas te nāma bibhrati ||
Gaya ng elepanteng yari sa kahoy at ng usang yari sa balat na pawang huwad, gayon din ang isang Brahmin na walang pag-aaral sa Veda at śāstra. Ang tatlong ito’y pangalan lamang ang taglay, ngunit hindi tinutupad ang katotohanang dapat kaakibat ng pangalang iyon.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A title or social identity has value only when supported by the corresponding discipline and conduct. Without adhyayana (Vedic/śāstric study and the life of learning it implies), the label 'brāhmaṇa' becomes a mere name—like lifeless replicas that resemble an animal but lack its living reality.
Vyāsa delivers a didactic comparison in the Śānti Parva, using vivid examples (a wooden elephant and a leather deer) to criticize hollow appearances and to stress that true status in dharma is grounded in learning and practice, not in name alone.