Shloka 8
एष राजन्नीदृशो वै ब्राह्मण: कश्यपो5 भवत् । अन्य प्रब्रृहि वा त्वं च कश्यपात् क्षत्रियं वरम्
eṣa rājann īdṛśo vai brāhmaṇaḥ kaśyapo 'bhavat | anyaṃ prabrūhi vā tvaṃ ca kaśyapāt kṣatriyaṃ varam ||
Arjuna said: “O King, such indeed was the brahmin Kaśyapa—his power has been seen to be of this kind. If you know of any other kṣatriya superior even to Kaśyapa, then tell me.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the acknowledged potency and moral-spiritual authority of a brahmin (Kaśyapa) and frames a comparative challenge: if a kṣatriya can surpass such brahminical power, it must be demonstrated by clear example. It implicitly probes what truly constitutes ‘superiority’—birth, prowess, or realized power grounded in dharma.
Arjuna addresses a king in dialogue, affirming that Kaśyapa was a brahmin of extraordinary, witnessed influence. He then asks the king to name any kṣatriya who is superior even to Kaśyapa, pressing the discussion toward concrete exemplars rather than mere claims.