Shloka 5
अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः
Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners
अधीत्य ब्राह्मणो वेदान् याजयेत यजेत वा | क्षत्रियो धनुराश्रित्य यजेच्चैव न याजयेत्,ब्राह्मण वेदोंको पढ़कर यज्ञ करावे अथवा करे। क्षत्रिय धनुषका आश्रय लेकर धन कमाये और यज्ञ करे; परंतु वह दूसरोंका यज्ञ न करावे (क्योंकि यह काम ब्राह्मणोंका है)
adhītya brāhmaṇo vedān yājayet yajeta vā | kṣatriyo dhanur āśritya yajec caiva na yājayet ||
Kṛpa said: “Having studied the Vedas, a brāhmaṇa should either perform sacrifices himself or officiate and conduct sacrifices for others. A kṣatriya, relying on the bow—i.e., on martial duty and the means of protection—should perform sacrifices for himself, but he should not act as a priest conducting sacrifices for others, for that office belongs to brāhmaṇas.”
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes duties by varṇa: a brāhmaṇa, grounded in Vedic study, may perform sacrifices and also officiate for others; a kṣatriya should perform sacrifices for himself but should not assume the priestly role of conducting rites for others.
Kṛpa states a normative rule about proper social and ritual conduct, emphasizing that priestly officiation (yājana) is the domain of brāhmaṇas, while kṣatriyas should adhere to their martial vocation symbolized by reliance on the bow.