Shloka 10
Yajña-bhāga-vyavasthā and the Pravṛtti–Nivṛtti Framework (यज्ञभागव्यवस्था तथा प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिधर्मविवेचनम्)
तत्रोवाच जगत् स्कन्द: क्षिपन् वाक्यमिदं तदा । योअन्यो<स्ति मत्तो5भ्यधिको विप्रा यस्याधिकं प्रिया:
tatrovāca jagat-skandaḥ kṣipan vākyam idaṃ tadā | yo 'nyo 'sti matto 'bhyadhiko viprā yasya 'dhikaṃ priyāḥ ||
Alors Skanda, jetant un défi devant l’univers entier, prononça ces paroles : «S’il existe un autre homme supérieur à moi—pour qui les brahmanes sont plus chers, plus dévoué encore aux brahmanes, et puissant par sa vaillance dans les trois mondes—qu’il arrache cette śakti, ou du moins qu’il la fasse trembler.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Greatness is framed not merely as physical strength but as reverence and devotion toward Brahmins (vipra-bhakti) and dharmic merit; Skanda’s challenge sets a moral criterion for superiority—one who honors the custodians of sacred knowledge more deeply is ‘greater’.
Bhishma reports that Skanda publicly issues a provocative challenge: if anyone surpasses him in strength and in devotion to Brahmins, and possesses world-spanning prowess, that person should prove it by uprooting or shaking the Śakti (spear/power) being referenced.