महाभारत and other पुराण have various श्लोक other than श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता which convey wisdom of the वेद. One of the celebrated events is referred to as व्याध गीता which is a long and wonderful conversation between a ब्राह्मण named Kaushika who approaches a व्याध (butcher) to learn about wisdom of the वेद. Given the long nature of the conversation, I have selected some parts of this discussion that may be considered useful for all साधक and present them here topic by topic for ease of reference.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

स तु विप्रो महाप्राज्ञो धर्मव्याधमपृच्छत | शिष्टाचारं कथमहं विद्यामिति नरोत्तम ||

Then the highly intelligent ब्राह्मण asked the व्याध – O नरोत्तम !  How shall I know what is शिष्टाचार (viz disciplined conduct aligned to धर्म)?

एतदिच्छामि भद्रं ते श्रोतुं धर्मभृतां वर। त्वतो महामते व्याध तद् प्रब्रवीहि यथातथम् ।। 

O best of virtuous persons, you are blessed. I desire to hear this from you – O One with a great mind ! O व्याध ! tell me the details as they truly are.

व्याध उवाच

यज्ञो दानं तपो वेदाः सत्यं च द्विजसत्तम | पञ्चैतानि पवित्राणि शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा ||

O द्विजसत्तम ! यज्ञ, दान, तप,study of वेद and सत्य are the पवित्र five things always seen as शिष्टाचार

कामक्रोधौ वशे कृत्वा दम्भं लोभमनार्जवम् | धर्म इत्येव संतुष्टास्ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः ||

Having taken control of काम, क्रोध, दम्भ (pride), लोभ (greed) and crooked (those who are not upright in the sense that they lack integration of their body, mind and intellect with thoughts, words and actions). Those who follow शिष्टाचार for the sake of शिष्टाचार (instead of for worldly gains) are alone to be regarded as aligned to धर्म. 

न तेषां विद्यतेऽवृत्तं यज्ञस्वाध्यायशीलिनाम् | आचारपालनं चैव द्वितीयं शिष्टलक्षणम् ||

They are those who undertake यज्ञ and self-study of the वेद and pursue no other behaviour other than those that are practiced by people who follow धर्म. In fact, to follow आचार (good conduct) is the second nature to one who is शिष्ट (disciplined). 

गुरुशुश्रूषणं सत्यमक्रोधो दानमेव च | एतच्चतुष्टयं ब्रह्मञ्शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा ||

O ब्राह्मण ! to follow गुरु (or superiors from whom we learn), adherence to सत्य, absence of anger and दान – these four are ever-present in those who follow शिष्टाचार. 

शिष्टाचारे मनः कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठाप्य च सर्वशः | यामयं लभते तुष्टिं सा न शक्या ह्यतोऽन्यथा ||

शिष्टाचार must be established in the mind and then established in all the conduct. Practice of the four will offer gains but no gains will happen if one looks at these four with suspicion. 

वेदस्योपनिषत्सत्यं सत्यस्योपनिषद्दमः | दमस्योपनिषत्त्यागः शिष्टाचारेषु नित्यदा ||

Adherence to सत्य constitutes the essence of the वेद, adherence to दम (control over passions) constitutes essence of सत्य,  adherence to त्त्याग (giving up or living for needs rather than greed) constitutes essence of दम. These attributes are always present in one who takes to शिष्टाचार

ये तु धर्ममसूयन्ते बुद्धिमोहान्विता नराः | अपथा गच्छतां तेषामनुयातापि पीड्यते ||

Those whose बुद्धि has taken to मोह (or blind infatuations) and develop a dislike for धर्म surely are walking the wrong path and those others who follow them will certain fall in the abyss of decay. 

ये तु शिष्टाः सुनियताः श्रुतित्यागपरायणाः | धर्म्यं पन्थानमारूढाः सत्यधर्मपरायणाः ||

नियच्छन्ति परां बुद्धिं शिष्टाचारान्विता नराः | उपाध्यायमते युक्ताः स्थित्या धर्मार्थदर्शिनः ||

Those who stick to शिष्टाचार daily, to the श्रुति (viz the वेद), to त्त्याग and they who have ascended in the path of धर्म and are engaged in adherence to सत्य will certain experience the ultimate goal of धर्म (viz मोक्ष). 

नास्तिकान्भिन्नमर्यादान्क्रूरान्पापमतौ स्थितान् | त्यज ताञ्ज्ञानमाश्रित्य धार्मिकानुपसेव्य च ||

Forsake the नास्तिक (those who do not take to the path of वेद) whose norms of conduct are different and they are established in ideas aligned to पाप. Take shelter under ज्ञान and align/ serve those who adopt धर्म way of life. 

कामलोभग्रहाकीर्णां पञ्चेन्द्रियजलां नदीम् | नावं धृतिमयीं कृत्वा जन्मदुर्गाणि संतर ||

Cross the river (of life) filled with creatures as the काम and लोभ using the boat of धृति (perseverance). The water of the river of life are like the इन्द्रिय (senses) and its banks are akin to successive births (and deaths). 

क्रमेण संचितो धर्मो बुद्धियोगमयो महान् | शिष्टाचारे भवेत्साधू रागः शुक्लेव वाससि ||

One who accumulates धर्म through continuous practice of बुद्धियोग is great and such practice of शिष्टाचार is indeed as beautiful like colour added on a white garment. 

अहिंसा सत्यवचनं सर्वभूतहितं परम्

अहिंसा परमो धर्मः स च सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः

सत्ये कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठां तु प्रवर्तन्ते प्रवृत्तयः

Practice of अहिंसा and adherence to सत्य  is the best for all life forms. One who follows the maxim “अहिंसा परमो धर्मः” is indeed established in सत्य. Indeed, all our actions/ external conduct find their meaning if such actions are established in सत्य. 

सत्यमेव गरीयस्तु शिष्टाचारनिषेवितम्

आचारश्च सतां धर्मः सन्तश्चाचारलक्षणाः

सत्य is the supreme virtue that is adopted by those taking on to a life of शिष्टाचार. Adherence to आचार (good conduct) is a unique habit of the honest and the wise and those that are holy always adhere to आचार.

यो यथाप्रकृतिर्जन्तुः स्वां स्वां प्रकृतिमश्नुते | पापात्मा क्रोधकामादीन्दोषानाप्नोत्यनात्मवान् ||

Every bring frames principles for life on its own according to its own innate tendencies. The one indulging in पाप who cannot restrain himself similarly becomes subject to these dosha viz काम, क्रोध & others. 

आरम्भो न्याययुक्तो यः स हि धर्म इति स्मृतः | अनाचारस्त्वधर्मेति एतच्छिष्टानुशासनम् ||

It is an immortal maxim that न्याय constitutes धर्म. People who follow धर्म always state that those who take to अनाचार constitutes अधर्म. 

अक्रुध्यन्तोऽनसूयन्तो निरहंकारमत्सराः | ऋजवः शमसंपन्नाः शिष्टाचारा भवन्ति ते ||

Those who take to शिष्टाचार are always seen as those who do not possess क्रोध, do not possess jealousy, do not possess pride and their conduct is always filled with simplicity. 

त्रैविद्यवृद्धाः शुचयो वृत्तवन्तो मनस्विनः | गुरुशुश्रूषवो दान्ताः शिष्टाचारा भवन्त्युत ||

Those again who take to शिष्टाचार carefully follow the rules laid down in the three वेद, keep themselves clean, who possess piety and pure character, who serve their superiors and who also have the power of restraining themselves. 

तेषामदीनसत्त्वानां दुष्कराचारकर्मणाम् | स्वैः कर्मभिः सत्कृतानां घोरत्वं संप्रणश्यति ||

The actions and behaviours of those great men are difficult of acquisition. The पाप done by such persons, who are made pure by their own कर्म, get exhausted out of themselves. 

तं सदाचारमाश्चर्यं पुराणं शाश्वतं ध्रुवम् | धर्मं धर्मेण पश्यन्तः स्वर्गं यान्ति मनीषिणः ||

This trait of सदाचार demonstrated by such persons is indeed wonderful, ancient, unchangeable and eternal. The lifestyle adopted by persons who take on to धर्म leads them to secure स्वर्ग. 

आस्तिका मानहीनाश्च द्विजातिजनपूजकाः | श्रुतवृत्तोपसंपन्नाः ते सन्तः स्वर्गगामिनः ||

Men who are आस्तिक, who are not ostentatious, who are respectful of people who may not possess good character and who are familiar with the rules and rites within the वेद deserve to live in स्वर्ग. 

वेदोक्तः परमो धर्मो धर्मशास्त्रेषु चापरः | शिष्टाचीर्णश्च शिष्टानां त्रिविधं धर्मलक्षणम् ||

Explanation of धर्म can be seen in three ways – first being that what is aligned to the वेद is supreme धर्म, next being that those actions that are aligned to धर्मशास्त्र and third being those that are aligned to शिष्टाचार

धारणं चापि विद्यानां तीर्थानामवगाहनम् | क्षमा सत्यार्जवं शौचं शिष्टाचारनिदर्शनम् ||

Crossing over the (ocean of) ज्ञान, perform all necessary क्रिया in places of तीर्थ, display of क्षमा, being aligned to सत्य, simplicity and cleanliness are the traits of those adopting शिष्टाचार. 

सर्वभूतदयावन्तो अहिंसानिरताः सदा | परुषं न प्रभाषन्ते सदा सन्तो द्विजप्रियाः ||

Those persons who harbour दया (compassion) towards all creatures, who are established daily in अहिंसा, who never speak ill of others are always dear to द्विज. 

शुभानामशुभानां च कर्मणां फलसंचये | विपाकमभिजानन्ति ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः ||

न्यायोपेता गुणोपेताः सर्वलोकहितैषिणः | सन्तः स्वर्गजितः शुक्लाः संनिविष्टाश्च सत्पथे ||

Those who are familiar with what is results of actions which are शुभ and अशुभ are seen by the wise as aligned to शिष्टाचार. Again those who follow न्याय, possess good गुण and are generally aligned to the good of all people, who are honest, obtained स्वर्ग, who possess sacred character and always walk in the path of सत् (righteous path)

दातारः संविभक्तारो दीनानुग्रहकारिणः | सर्वपूज्याः श्रुतधनास्तथैव च तपस्विनः | सर्वभूतदयावन्तस्ते शिष्टाः शिष्टसंमताः ||

Who are liberal in giving, are not selfish, who show favour to the distressed and who are revered (or respected) by all, who possess wealth of ज्ञान, who indulge in तप, look at all creatures with दया may be said to be aligned to शिष्टाचार. 

दाननित्याः सुखाँल्लोकानाप्नुवन्तीह च श्रियम् | पीडया च कलत्रस्य भृत्यानां च समाहिताः ||

अतिशक्त्या प्रयच्छन्ति सन्तः सद्भिः समागताः | लोकयात्रां च पश्यन्तो धर्ममात्महितानि च ||

The persons who regularly undertake दान secure सुख while living on Earth and abodes of happiness after life. When approached and solicited by honest and the wise, one who is aligned to शिष्टाचार will give charity to them to the best of his power, even at the denial of the comforts of his wife and dependents. Looking at their own interest and having an eyes on धर्म and the ways of the world

एवं सन्तो वर्तमाना एधन्ते शाश्वतीः समाः | अहिंसा सत्यवचनमानृशंस्यमथार्जवम् ||

अद्रोहो नातिमानश्च ह्रीस्तितिक्षा दमः शमः | धीमन्तो धृतिमन्तश्च भूतानामनुकम्पकाः || अकामद्वेषसंयुक्तास्ते सन्तो लोकसत्कृताः

Those who thus practice शिष्टाचार obtain the greatest amount of धर्म eternally. Persons who are possessed of attributes of अहिंसा, adherence to सत्य, modesty and simplicity and who are not possessed by jealousy and pride, who are self-controlled, are stable (or patient), forgiving, who are kind towards all creatures and who are free from काम and द्वेष are said to be (living like) witnesses of the world

त्रीण्येव तु पदान्याहुः सतां वृत्तमनुत्तमम् | न द्रुह्येच्चैव दद्याच्च सत्यं चैव सदा वदेत् ||

सर्वत्र च दयावन्तः सन्तः करुणवेदिनः | गच्छन्तीह सुसंतुष्टा धर्म्यं पन्थानमुत्तमम् | शिष्टाचारा महात्मानो येषां धर्मः सुनिश्चितः ||

These three are known to constitute the highest way of the pious – one must not offend anyone, one must always be charitable and one is always aligned to सत्य.  Such men who are kind on all occasions and who are filled with करुण obtain the greatest contentment and ascend to the superior path of धर्म and those great persons who thus follow शिष्टाचार will certainly acquire state of धर्म. 

अनसूया क्षमा शान्तिः संतोषः प्रियवादिता | कामक्रोधपरित्यागः शिष्टाचारनिषेवणम् | कर्मणा श्रुतसंपन्नं सतां मार्गमनुत्तमम् ||

Absence of jealousy, having trait of क्षमा, being peaceful, contented, adopting to agreeable speech, abandoning काम and क्रोध, servicing those who follow शिष्टाचार and performing such कर्म that is aligned to the वेद constitutes the superior path of the honest and the wise.

शिष्टाचारं निषेवन्ते नित्यं धर्मेष्वतन्द्रिताः | प्रज्ञाप्रासादमारुह्य मुह्यतो महतो जनान् ||

प्रेक्षन्तो लोकवृत्तानि विविधानि द्विजोत्तम | अतिपुण्यानि पापानि तानि द्विजवरोत्तम ||

Those who always follow the path of शिष्टाचार and daily worship those aligned to धर्म can ascend to the state of ज्ञान. It is only they who can be greed from the great terror (or rebirth). It is only they who have the power of observing several aspects of human nature. 

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथाप्रज्ञं यथाश्रुतम् | शिष्टाचारगुणान्ब्रह्मन्पुरस्कृत्य द्विजर्षभ ||

O द्विजवरोत्तम ! I have thus related to you all about the subject of पुण्य as well as पाप conduct according to my knowledge or as I have heard on the matter. O ब्राह्मण ! I have done justice to the subject which has been introduced.

Source:

Translation of Mahabharata by MN Dutt

Sanskrit verses from https://bombay.indology.info/mahabharata/text/UD/MBh03.txt