Shloka 8
Agastya-Māhātmya and Vasiṣṭha’s Protection of the Ādityas
Khalina Daityas; Sarayū Etiology
स्वाध्यायनिरता विप्रास्तथा स्वस्त्ययने नृणाम् । रक्षणे क्षत्रियं प्राहुर्वैंश्यं पुष्टयर्थमेव च
svādhyāyaniratā viprās tathā svastyayane nṛṇām | rakṣaṇe kṣatriyaṃ prāhur vaiśyaṃ puṣṭyartham eva ca ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Les brahmanes se vouent au svādhyāya, l’étude des Veda, et aux rites et pratiques qui assurent l’auspice aux hommes. Le kṣatriya, dit-on, est tourné vers la protection. Et le vaiśya existe pour nourrir et soutenir la communauté.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines role-based dharma: Brahmins uphold learning and auspicious welfare-rites for society, Kshatriyas safeguard and protect, and Vaishyas sustain the community’s material prosperity and nourishment.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he outlines the traditional functions of the social orders (varṇas), presenting them as complementary responsibilities aimed at collective welfare.