Shloka 36
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
क्षत्रियाणां प्रतपतां तेजसा च बलेन च | ब्राह्मणेष्वेव शाम्यन्ति तेजांसि च तपांसि च
kṣatriyāṇāṃ pratapatāṃ tejasā ca balena ca | brāhmaṇeṣv eva śāmyanti tejāṃsi ca tapāṃsi ca ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王者の威力に燃え立つクシャトリヤ――光輝と力に灼かれる者でさえ――ブラーフマナの臨在とその勢域に入れば、その烈しい力と苦行の熱は鎮まる。この偈は、霊的権威と自制が世俗の力を和らげ、権勢を支配ではなくダルマへと導くという倫理の序列を示す。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly power (tejas and bala) is meant to be tempered by spiritual discipline and moral authority (represented by Brahmanas). The verse teaches that force and pride naturally quiet down in the presence of higher ethical and ascetic standards, aligning rulership with dharma.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he states a general principle: even the most formidable Kshatriyas, blazing with strength and splendor, become pacified when they come before Brahmanas—highlighting the ideal relationship between political power and spiritual guidance.