Shloka 12
ब्राह्मणा हि महद्भूतमस्मिललोके परत्र च । भस्म कुर्युर्जगदिदं क्रुद्धा: प्रत्यक्षदर्शिन:
brāhmaṇā hi mahadbhūtam asmin loke paratra ca | bhasma kuryur jagad idaṁ kruddhāḥ pratyakṣadarśinaḥ ||
Vāyu-deva dit : «Les brāhmaṇas sont tenus pour une grande puissance, en ce monde comme dans l’autre. Ce sont des voyants qui perçoivent directement; et si la colère les embrase, ils peuvent réduire en cendres ce monde entier.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses the immense spiritual and moral potency attributed to Brahmins as seers, and warns that disrespect or provocation can unleash destructive consequences; ethically, it implies the need for restraint (especially of anger) and reverence toward those devoted to knowledge and dharma.
Vāyu-deva is speaking and underscores the extraordinary status of Brahmins across both worlds, describing them as direct perceivers whose anger can metaphorically (and in epic logic, literally) burn the world—serving as a cautionary statement within the discourse on conduct and dharma.