Shloka 46
Adhyāya 199: Karma–Jñāna Causality and the Nirguṇa Brahman
Manu’s Instruction
राजोवाच वाग्वज़ा ब्राह्मणाः प्रोक्ता: क्षत्रिया बाहुजीविन: । वाग्युद्धे तदिदं तीव्रं मम विप्र त्वया सह
rājovāca vāgvajrā brāhmaṇāḥ proktāḥ kṣatriyā bāhujīvinaḥ | vāgyuddhe tad idaṃ tīvraṃ mama vipra tvayā saha
Le roi dit : «On proclame que les brahmanes ont une parole semblable à la foudre, tandis que les kshatriyas vivent de la force de leurs bras. Ainsi, dans cette bataille de mots, l’affrontement entre toi et moi, ô brahmane, est devenu âpre».
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts social-dharmic strengths: Brahmins are powerful through incisive speech and reasoning, while Kshatriyas are powerful through physical might. It implies that ethical contest is not only on the battlefield; disciplined, truthful speech can be a form of force, and verbal conflict should be recognized as serious and consequential.
A king addresses a Brahmin during a heated exchange. Acknowledging the Brahmin’s ‘thunderbolt’ speech and the Kshatriya’s reliance on arms, the king frames their confrontation as a ‘war of words’ that has grown intense between them.