Shloka 14
तपो मन्त्रबलं नित्यं ब्राह्मणेषु प्रतिक्ठितम् । अस्त्रबाहुबलं नित्य क्षत्रियेषु प्रतिष्ठितम्,“ब्राह्मणोंमें सदा तप और मन्त्रका बल उपस्थित होता है और क्षत्रियोंमें अस्त्र तथा भुजाओंका
tapo mantrabalaṃ nityaṃ brāhmaṇeṣu pratiṣṭhitam | astrabāhubalaṃ nityaṃ kṣatriyeṣu pratiṣṭhitam ||
“ব্ৰাহ্মণসকলৰ মাজত সদায় তপ আৰু মন্ত্ৰবল প্ৰতিষ্ঠিত; আৰু ক্ষত্ৰিয়সকলৰ মাজত সদায় অস্ত্ৰবল আৰু বাহুবল প্ৰতিষ্ঠিত।”
धनद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes rightful forms of strength according to dharma: Brahmins are grounded in spiritual power (tapas and mantra), while Kshatriyas are grounded in martial power (weapons and bodily prowess). It frames power as role-based responsibility rather than mere domination.
Dhanada (Kubera) states a principle about the natural and dharmic foundations of authority in society, contrasting the Brahmin’s spiritual means with the Kshatriya’s martial means, as part of the Shanti Parva’s broader instruction on governance, conduct, and social order.