Manava Dharmashastra 1.97

1.97

viduṣāṃ śreṣṭhyaṃ mahāphaleṣu yāgādiṣvadhikārāt | teṣāmapi kṛtabuddhayaḥ pariniṣṭhitavedatattvārthā na bauddhādibhiḥ kaluṣīkriyante | teṣāmapi kartāraḥ karmaṇāmanuṣṭhātāraḥ | te hi vihitakaraṇātpratiṣiddhāsevanācca nopahanyante | teṣāmapi brahmavādinaḥ, brahmasvarūpatvāttatra hyatyayānandaḥ |

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).