Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 5
अध्याय ५०: उत्तरेण सह अर्जुनस्य रथप्रयाणे ध्वजचिह्नैः कौरवसेनानिर्देशः
Arjuna directs Uttara by identifying Kaurava commanders through banners
अधीत्य ब्राह्मणो वेदान् याजयेत यजेत वा | क्षत्रियो धनुराश्रित्य यजेच्चैव न याजयेत्
adhītya brāhmaṇo vedān yājayet yajeta vā | kṣatriyo dhanur āśritya yajec caiva na yājayet ||
कृप उवाच—अधीत्य ब्राह्मणो वेदान् याजयेत यजेत वा । क्षत्रियो धनुराश्रित्य यजेच्चैव न याजयेत् ॥
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse distinguishes duties by varṇa: a brāhmaṇa, grounded in Vedic study, may perform sacrifices and also officiate for others; a kṣatriya should perform sacrifices for himself but should not assume the priestly role of conducting rites for others.
Kṛpa states a normative rule about proper social and ritual conduct, emphasizing that priestly officiation (yājana) is the domain of brāhmaṇas, while kṣatriyas should adhere to their martial vocation symbolized by reliance on the bow.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.