Mahabharata — Ashvamedhika Parva, Shloka 5
Kṛṣṇasya Dvārakā-praveśaḥ — Krishna’s Return to Dvārakā and the Raivataka Festival
सौदास उवाच प्रजानिसर्गाद् विप्रान् वै क्षत्रिया: पूजयन्ति ह । विप्रेभ्यश्षापि बहवो दोषा: प्रादुर्भवन्ति वै
Saudāsa uvāca | prajānisargād viprān vai kṣatriyāḥ pūjayanti ha | viprebhyaś cāpi bahavo doṣāḥ prādurbhavanti vai ||
ସୌଦାସ କହିଲେ—ବ୍ରହ୍ମନ୍! ସୃଷ୍ଟିର ଆରମ୍ଭରୁ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟମାନେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜା କରିଆସୁଛନ୍ତି; ତଥାପି ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କ ଦିଗରୁ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଅନେକ ଦୋଷ ଓ ବିପଦ ପ୍ରକଟ ହୁଏ।
सौदास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Respect for spiritual authority is presented as an ancient Kṣatriya duty, but the verse also warns that moral responsibility is mutual: even revered Brāhmaṇas can become sources of harm, so dharma requires vigilance, discernment, and accountability on both sides.
Saudāsa is speaking reflectively about the long-standing custom of Kṣatriyas honoring Brāhmaṇas, while expressing a grievance that despite such reverence, difficulties and ‘faults’ still arise for Kṣatriyas from the Brāhmaṇa side—setting up a discussion on tensions between royal power and priestly influence.