Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35
Yamapatha (The Road of Yama), Dāna-Phala, and the Imperishable Fruition of Karma
बुद्धिमस्तु नराः श्रेष्टा नरेषु ब्राह्मणास्तथा । ब्राह्मणेषु च विद्वांसो विद्वत्सु कृतबुद्धयः ॥ ३५ ॥
buddhimastu narāḥ śreṣṭā nareṣu brāhmaṇāstathā | brāhmaṇeṣu ca vidvāṃso vidvatsu kṛtabuddhayaḥ || 35 ||
在人类之中，具智慧者为最胜；在人中，婆罗门亦为最上。于婆罗门中，博学者尤为卓越；而在博学者中，心智真正修治、圆熟成就者为至上。
Narada (in an instructional discourse within Purva Bhaga)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It defines spiritual and social excellence not by birth or status alone, but by wisdom and the refinement of intellect—placing the highest value on disciplined understanding (kṛtabuddhi) that guides righteous living.
By praising cultivated intellect, it implies that devotion should be informed and steady—bhakti guided by discernment, scriptural understanding, and mature judgment rather than mere emotion or ritualism.
The verse points to the primacy of vidvat (true learning), which in practice is supported by Vedanga disciplines—especially Vyākaraṇa (grammar) and Śikṣā (phonetics)—that make study, teaching, and correct recitation meaningful and precise.