Shloka 9
Draupadī’s Lament and Theodicy: Dharma, Dice, and Īśvara’s Governance (Āraṇyaka-parva 31)
वेदाध्यायी धर्मपर: कुले जातो मनस्विनि । स्थविरेषु स योक्तव्यो राजर्षिर्धर्मचारिभि:,मनस्विनि! जो वेदका अध्ययन करनेवाला, धर्मपरायण और कुलीन हो, उस राजर्षिकी गणना धर्मात्मा पुरुषोंको वृद्धोंमें करनी चाहिये (वह आयुमें छोटा हो तो भी उसका वृद्ध पुरुषके समान आदर करना चाहिये)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca | vedādhyāyī dharmaparaḥ kule jāto manasvini | sthavireṣu sa yoktavyo rājarṣir dharmacāribhiḥ ||
玉提希提罗说道：“噢，心志高贵的夫人啊，凡研习吠陀、笃行达摩、又出身良族者——如此的王仙（rājarṣi），当为行义之人列入长老之列。纵使年岁尚轻，也应受如同老者一般的敬礼。”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True seniority is defined by learning and righteous conduct, not merely by age; a Veda-learned, dharma-centered person deserves the respect given to elders.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a noble-minded woman and lays down a norm of conduct: the community of dharma-practitioners should treat a virtuous, Veda-trained royal sage as an elder, even if he is younger.