Shloka 15
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
यदि वैरिषु भृत्येषु स्वजनव्यवहारयो: । विषयेष्विन्द्रियाणां च आकाशे मा पराक्रम
yadi vairiṣu bhṛtyeṣu svajana-vyavahārayoḥ | viṣayeṣv indriyāṇāṁ ca ākāśe mā parākrama ||
„Wenn du wahrhaft Kraft besitzt, so zeige deinen Mut dort, wo er rechtens geprüft wird—gegen Feinde, im Umgang mit Abhängigen und Dienern, im Verhalten der Deinen und in Streitigkeiten zwischen Kläger und Beklagtem, und im Bezwingen dessen, was die Sinne verlockt. Vergeude deine Stärke nicht an denen, die im Himmel wohnen; solche Aggression ist fehlgeleitet und ohne sittlichen Gehalt.“
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength and heroism are meaningful only when directed toward rightful arenas—defending against enemies, acting justly in social/legal dealings, and conquering one’s own senses. Misusing power against inappropriate targets is condemned.
Śyena offers counsel that reframes ‘parākrama’ (valor) as ethical discipline: prove power through responsible action in human conflicts and self-mastery, not by futile or wrongful aggression against beings ‘in the sky’ (i.e., remote or improper targets).