Shloka 46
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
यथा दारुमयो हस्ती यथा चर्ममयो मृगः । ब्राह्मणश्वानधीयानस्त्रयस्ते नाम बिभ्रति,'जैसे लकड़ीका हाथी और चामका बना हुआ मृग हो, उसी प्रकार वेदशास्त्रोंके अध्ययनसे शून्य ब्राह्मण है। ये तीनों नाममात्र धारण करते हैं (परंतु नामके अनुसार काम नहीं देते)
yathā dārumayo hastī yathā carmamayo mṛgaḥ | brāhmaṇaś cānadhīyānas trayas te nāma bibhrati ||
جیسے لکڑی کا ہاتھی اور چمڑے کا ہرن محض نقل ہیں، ویسے ہی وید و شاستر کے مطالعے سے خالی برہمن بھی۔ یہ تینوں صرف نام رکھتے ہیں، حقیقت نہیں۔
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.