Shloka 4
Garuḍa’s Assault on the Devas and the Fire-Barrier (अमृत-रक्षा-युद्धम्)
अग्निरकोरों विषं शस्त्र विप्रो भवति कोपित: । गुरुहिं सर्वभूतानां ब्राह्मण: परिकीर्तित:,कुपित किया हुआ ब्राह्मण अग्नि, सूर्य, विष एवं शस्त्रके समान भयंकर होता है। ब्राह्मणको समस्त प्राणियोंका गुरु कहा गया है
agnir arkō viṣaṁ śastraṁ vipro bhavati kopitaḥ | guruhiṁ sarvabhūtānāṁ brāhmaṇaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||
क्रोधावलेला ब्राह्मण अग्नी, सूर्य, विष आणि शस्त्र यांसारखा भयंकर होतो. ब्राह्मणाला सर्व प्राण्यांचा गुरु असे परिकीर्तित केले आहे.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a learned brāhmaṇa, when enraged, can be as destructive as elemental and lethal forces (fire, sun, poison, weapons), so one should act with restraint and respect toward spiritual/moral authorities; it also affirms the brāhmaṇa’s role as guru—an ethical guide for society.
Pitāmaha is delivering a cautionary maxim within the Adi Parva’s early instruction-oriented context, emphasizing the danger of provoking a brāhmaṇa and highlighting the traditional view of the brāhmaṇa as the teacher of all beings.