Paṇḍita means learned, and budha means one who is well-versed. He is called budha. Budha, this very term you'll find in another place of Bhagavad-gītā, in the Tenth Chapter, budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ.
- ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo
- mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate
- iti matvā bhajante māṁ
- budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ
- (BG 10.8)
That budha you'll find in the Tenth Chapter, and the same budha, paṇḍita, paṇḍita and budha. Paṇḍita, according to Bhagavad-gītā, paṇḍita, paṇḍita means learned man. The Sanskrit word paṇḍita means . . . and budha is "well-versed."
Now who is well-versed? And who is paṇḍita? A very learned man from . . . by academic education may not be a learned man according to the view of Bhagavad-gītā. Bhagavad-gītā says: "He is the learned man who can see everyone on the equal footing, equal level."
- vidyā-vinaya-sampanne
- brāhmaṇe gavi hastini
- śuni caiva śva-pāke ca
- paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ
- (BG 5.18)
A paṇḍita, paṇḍita can see . . . paṇḍita means a learned man can see that "Here is a learned brāhmiṇ." In India, according to Vedic civilization, a learned brāhmiṇ is considered to be the topmost man in human society. So therefore He is taking the example that "Here is a very learned brāhmiṇ." Vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe. Not only he is brāhmiṇ, but he is very gentle. Vidyā means . . . what is the result of vidyā? Education means one becomes gentleman. That is the result of vidyā. If one is not a gentleman, then his learning is not accepted according to the Vedic literature. So paṇḍita means that one who is learned and gentle.