एष नित्यो महिमा ब्राह्मणस्य न वर्धते कर्मणा नो कनीयान् ।तस्यैव स्यात्पदवित्तं विदित्वा न लिप्यते कर्मणा, पापकेनेति ।तस्मादेवंविच्छान्तो दान्त उपरतस्तितिक्षुः समाहितो भूत्वात्मन्येवात्मानं पश्यति सर्वमात्मानं पश्यति नैनं पाप्मा तरतिसर्वं पाप्मानं तरति नैनं पाप्मा तपतिसर्वं पाप्मानं तपति विपापो विरजो-ऽविचिकित्सो ब्राह्मणो भवत्येष ब्रह्मलो-कः सम्राडेनं प्रापितोऽसीति होवाच या-ज्ञवल्क्यः सोऽहं भगवते विदेहान्ददामिमां चापि सह दास्यायेति ॥ २३ ॥
In plain words
Here is the glory that belongs to a true brāhmaṇa, and it never changes: no action makes it greater, none makes it smaller. To know its true ground is to know it completely, and once you know it, no action, however wrong, can stain you. So someone who knows this becomes calm, mastered, done with chasing the world, able to bear anything, gathered into one still point — and simply sees the Self, everywhere, in nothing but the self. He sees the whole world as nothing but that Self. No wrong can reach him; he moves past every wrong there is. No wrong can burn him; he burns every wrong to nothing. Cleared of evil, cleared of restlessness, cleared of doubt — this is what a real brāhmaṇa is. 'This, great king, is the world of Brahman — you have arrived,' Yājñavalkya said. And Janaka answered: 'Then I give you the whole kingdom of Videha, sir — and I give you myself, to serve you.'
Close to the Sanskrit
This is the eternal glory of a brāhmaṇa: it does not increase by action, nor does it become less. One would be the knower of that very station; having known it, one is not tainted by action, by evil. Therefore, one who knows thus, having become tranquil, subdued, withdrawn, forbearing, and composed, sees the Self within the self alone; he sees everything as the Self. Evil does not overcome him; he overcomes all evil. Evil does not burn him; he burns all evil. Free from evil, free from passion, free from doubt, he becomes a brāhmaṇa. 'This is the world of Brahman, O emperor; you have been brought to it' — thus spoke Yājñavalkya. 'I give the Videhas to you, venerable sir, and myself as well, to be your servant.'