Shloka 131
Purohita-Niyoga and the Brahma–Kṣatra Concord
Aila–Kaśyapa Saṃvāda
एतौ हि नित्यं संयुक्तावितरेतरधारणे । क्षत्रं वै ब्रह्मणो योनिर्योनि: क्षत्रस्य वै द्विजा:
etau hi nityaṁ saṁyuktāv itaretara-dhāraṇe | kṣatraṁ vai brāhmaṇo yonir yoniḥ kṣatrasya vai dvijāḥ ||
Keduanya senantiasa terikat, saling menopang satu sama lain. Kṣatra (kekuasaan raja) bersumber dari brāhmaṇa; dan, wahai kaum dua-kali-lahir, bagi brāhmaṇa, kṣatra pula menjadi sumber—sebagai perlindungan dan penopang.
कश्यप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that spiritual authority (Brāhmaṇa) and political-military authority (Kṣatra) are interdependent: the Kṣatra is grounded in Brahminical guidance and legitimacy, while the Brāhmaṇas rely on Kṣatra for protection and social stability. Dharma is upheld when both support each other rather than compete.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Kāśyapa explains the proper relationship between the priestly and royal orders, emphasizing their continual union and reciprocal support as a foundation for righteous rule and social order.