Shloka 19
सर्वभूतप्रधानांस्तान् भैक्षवृत्तीनहं सदा । आत्मसम्भावितान् विप्रान् स्थापयाम्यात्मनो वशे
sarvabhūtapradhānāṁs tān bhaikṣavṛttīn ahaṁ sadā | ātmasambhāvitān viprān sthāpayāmy ātmano vaśe ||
അർജുനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഇന്നുമുതൽ ‘സകല ജീവികളിലും ശ്രേഷ്ഠർ’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധരായ, എപ്പോഴും ഭിക്ഷാവൃത്തിയാൽ ജീവിക്കുന്ന, തങ്ങളെയേ ഏറ്റവും ഉത്തമരെന്ന് കരുതുന്ന ആ ബ്രാഹ്മണരെ ഞാൻ എന്റെ അധീനത്തിൽ വെക്കും.
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.