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 ||
婆悉吒说道：“见解有缺之人，不能如实而确切地陈明经义真旨。纵使其人意气自持、精神不屈，若无圣典（śāstra）之学为根基而妄言，终将为众所讥笑——因为其言不契真实之理。”
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.