Verse 1.97

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

ब्राह्मणेषु च विद्वांसो विद्वत्सु कृतबुद्धयः ।
कृतबुद्धिषु कर्तारः कर्तृषु ब्रह्मवेदिनः ॥ ९७ ॥

brāhmaṇeṣu ca vidvāṃso vidvatsu kṛtabuddhayaḥ |
kṛtabuddhiṣu kartāraḥ kartṛṣu brahmavedinaḥ || 97 ||

Among Brāhmaṇas, the learned are the best, among the learned, those with firm convictions, among the men with firm convictions, those that act up to them; and among the actors, those that know Brahman.—(97).

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The superiority of the learned rests on the fact that it is they alone that are entitled to the performance of sacrifices that lead to great results. Among these ‘those with firm convictions’—who have acquired firm knowledge of the essence of the Veda, and are never affected (adversely) by Bauḍḍhas and other heretics.—Among these again ‘those that act up to them’—i.e., the performer of actions; these persons doing what is enjoined and avoiding what is prohibited, are never attacked (by evil).—Among these, those that know ‘Brahman’; those that know Brahman become of the nature of Brahman, and therein lies imperishable bliss. (97).

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

‘Kṛtabuddhayaḥ’—‘who know the Veda and its meaning (Medhātithi, Nārāyaṇa and Nandana);—’ ‘Knowing the truth’ (Sarvajña-nārāyaṇa and Rāmacandra),—‘who recognise the necessity of doing what is prescribed in the scriptures’ (Kullūka);—‘determined’ (Rāghavānanda).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

See Comparative notes for Verse 1.94 (Brahmā created the Brāhmaṇas).