Shloka 696
Rāma–Jāmadagnya-janma-kāraṇa and Kṣatra-kṣaya
Paraśurāma’s origins and the depletion/restoration of kṣatriya lineages
पीड्यन्ते न हि विप्रेषु प्रभुत्वं कस्यचित् तदा । सारे जीवजगत्में अराजकता फैल गयी। बलवान मनुष्य दुर्बलोंको पीड़ा देने लगे। उस समय ब्राह्मणोंमेंसे किसीकी प्रभुता कायम न रही
pīḍyante na hi vipreṣu prabhutvaṃ kasyacit tadā |
Dijo Vāsudeva: «Entonces, entre los brahmanes, no quedó establecida la autoridad de nadie, pues estaban siendo oprimidos». El verso evoca el derrumbe del orden legítimo: cuando los sabios y guardianes éticos del dharma son hostigados y pierden su lugar, la sociedad se desliza hacia la anarquía y los fuertes comienzan a atormentar a los débiles.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
When those tasked with preserving learning, restraint, and dharma (vipras) are oppressed and lose social authority, the moral center of society weakens; this accelerates disorder and enables the strong to exploit the weak.
Vāsudeva describes a time of social breakdown: Brahmins are being harassed, so none can maintain recognized authority. The implied consequence is arājakatā—absence of effective governance and the rise of coercion by the powerful.