Shloka 7
ऐल उवाच यदा हि ब्रह्म प्रजहाति क्षत्रं क्षत्रं यदा वा प्रजहाति ब्रह्म । अन्वग्बलं कतमे5स्मिन् भजन्ते तथा वर्णा: कतमे5स्मिन् प्रियन्ते
aila uvāca | yadā hi brahma prajahāti kṣatraṁ kṣatraṁ yadā vā prajahāti brahma | anvag-balaṁ katame 'smin bhajante tathā varṇāḥ katame 'smin priyante ||
Aila said: “When the Brahmin order abandons the Kshatriya order—or when the Kshatriya order abandons the Brahmin order—then in whom does the rightful strength and authority reside? And in such a situation, which of the social orders align themselves with him, and which become dear and loyal to him?”
ऐल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse probes the ethical foundation of political and social authority: when priestly (brahma) and royal (kṣatra) powers separate or reject each other, legitimacy becomes unstable, and society’s allegiance (varṇas ‘siding with’ and ‘becoming loyal’) shifts toward whichever principle/person can sustain order and recognized strength.
Aila raises a pointed question within a discourse on dharma and governance: he asks who truly holds effective power and social support when the traditional alliance between Brahmin authority and Kshatriya rule breaks down.