Shloka 17
ब्राह्मणा: संश्रिता: क्षत्र न क्षत्रं ब्राह्मणाश्रितम् । ख्रिता ब्रह्मोपधा विप्रा: खादन्ति क्षत्रियान् भुवि
arjuna uvāca | brāhmaṇāḥ saṁśritāḥ kṣatra na kṣatraṁ brāhmaṇāśritam | kṣatriyā brahmopadhā viprāḥ khādanti kṣatriyān bhuvi ||
Arjuna sprach: „O Kshatriya, die Brahmanen leben, indem sie sich auf den Stand der Kshatriyas stützen; der Kshatriya jedoch lebt nicht unter dem Schutz der Brahmanen. Jene Brahmanen, die unter dem Vorwand des Studiums und Lehrens der Veden ihren Lebensunterhalt suchen, nähren sich auf dieser Erde in Wahrheit von dem, was von den Kshatriyas kommt.“
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the practical interdependence between social orders and criticizes those who use sacred learning as a mere pretext for livelihood, implying that ethical integrity—not just status or scholarship—matters in dharma.
Arjuna speaks in a discussion on conduct and social duties, pointing out that Brahmins often rely materially on Kshatriya patronage, while Kshatriyas are not portrayed as similarly dependent—framing a critique of exploitative or hypocritical religious livelihood.