Shloka 19
सर्वभूतप्रधानांस्तान् भैक्षवृत्तीनहं सदा । आत्मसम्भावितान् विप्रान् स्थापयाम्यात्मनो वशे
sarvabhūtapradhānāṁs tān bhaikṣavṛttīn ahaṁ sadā | ātmasambhāvitān viprān sthāpayāmy ātmano vaśe ||
Arjuna berkata: “Mulai hari ini, para brahmana yang disebut ‘terdepan di antara semua makhluk’, yang hidup dari meminta-minta, dan yang memandang diri mereka paling utama—akan selalu kutempatkan di bawah kendaliku.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: spiritual status and social reverence do not exempt one from accountability. When pride or self-importance arises—even among respected brahmins living on alms—kṣatriya authority is portrayed as responsible for maintaining order and curbing arrogance that could harm society.
Arjuna speaks in the first person, declaring an intention to keep certain brahmins—described as reputedly foremost, living by begging, yet self-conceited—under his control. The statement functions as a policy-like assertion of oversight over influential religious figures.