Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 25
अथवा त्वां महीपाल शमयिष्यन्ति वै द्विजा: । निरसिष्यन्ति ते राष्ट्रद्धतोत्साहा महाबला:
athavā tvāṃ mahīpāla śamayīṣyanti vai dvijāḥ | nirasīṣyanti te rāṣṭrād dhatotsāhā mahābalāḥ ||
Arjuna said: “Or else, O king, the Brahmins will surely restrain and pacify you. If you obstruct their rightful zeal and purpose, those mighty ones will drive you out of your kingdom.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must uphold dharma and not obstruct the rightful religious and moral agency of Brahmins; if he acts arrogantly or suppresses dharmic zeal, he risks losing legitimacy and even being removed from power.
Arjuna addresses a king, warning that if the king does not calm down or if he interferes with the Brahmins’ purpose, the powerful Brahmins themselves will restrain him and may expel him from his kingdom.