Shloka 14
Purohita-Niyoga and the Brahma–Kṣatra Concord
Aila–Kaśyapa Saṃvāda
ब्रह्मवृक्षो रक्ष्यमाणो मधु हेम च वर्षति । अरक्ष्यमाण: सततमश्रु पापं च वर्षति
brahmavṛkṣo rakṣyamāṇo madhu hema ca varṣati | arakṣyamāṇaḥ satatam aśru pāpaṃ ca varṣati ||
କାଶ୍ୟପ କହିଲେ—ବ୍ରହ୍ମବୃକ୍ଷସଦୃଶ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣକୁ ଯଦି ରକ୍ଷା କରାଯାଏ, ସେ ମଧୁ ପରି ମାଧୁର୍ୟ ଓ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପରି ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ବର୍ଷାଏ। ଯଦି ରକ୍ଷା ନ କରାଯାଏ, ସେ ସଦା ଦୁଃଖର ଅଶ୍ରୁ ଓ ପାପ ବର୍ଷାଏ। ତେଣୁ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣରକ୍ଷା କଲ୍ୟାଣକୁ ଧାରଣ କରେ ଏବଂ ଧର୍ମପତନକୁ ନିବାରେ।
कश्यप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that protecting and honoring the Brāhmaṇa (symbolized as a ‘Brahman-tree’) yields sweet and prosperous outcomes, while neglecting that duty leads to ongoing suffering and the spread of sin; social and moral welfare depend on safeguarding dharma-supporting persons.
In Śānti Parva’s rājadharma-oriented instruction, the sage Kaśyapa speaks in a didactic tone, using a vivid metaphor: a protected sacred tree gives honey and gold, but an unprotected one produces tears and sin—urging rulers and society to maintain protective care for Brāhmaṇas and dharmic institutions.