Shloka 64
ऐन्द्रो धर्म: क्षत्रियाणां ब्राह्मणानामथाग्निक: । ब्रह्मवह्निर्मम बल॑ भक्ष्यामि शमयन् क्षुधाम्
aindro dharmaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ brāhmaṇānām athāgnikaḥ | brahmavahnirmama balaṃ bhakṣyāmi śamayan kṣudhām ||
ଘପଚ କହିଲା—କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟମାନଙ୍କର ଧର୍ମ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରସଦୃଶ—ବୀର ଶାସନ ଓ ସାର୍ବଭୌମ ବଳ; ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କର ଧର୍ମ ଅଗ୍ନିକର୍ମ—ପବିତ୍ର ଅଗ୍ନିର ନିୟମ। ମୁଁ ‘ବ୍ରହ୍ମ-ଅଗ୍ନି’; ମୋର ବଳ ଭକ୍ଷଣ। ମୁଁ ଭକ୍ଷଣ କରି କ୍ଷୁଧା ଶମାଇବି।
घपच उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts varṇa-specific ideals: kṣatriya dharma is framed as ‘Indra-like’ sovereignty and force, while brāhmaṇa dharma is ‘fire-based’—ritual discipline and sacred restraint. It also shows how a speaker can invoke dharma-language to define (and potentially justify) their own nature and actions.
The speaker identifies himself with a sacred, consuming fire (‘Brahma-fire’) and declares that his power is to devour in order to satisfy hunger. The statement uses the idiom of dharma (role-based duty and sacred power) to present consumption as an inherent function rather than a mere impulse.