Shloka 36
अन्नदान-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Gift of Food) | Annadāna-Praśaṃsā
क्षत्रियाणां प्रतपतां तेजसा च बलेन च | ब्राह्मणेष्वेव शाम्यन्ति तेजांसि च तपांसि च,छोटे-बड़े और बड़ोंसे भी बड़े जो क्षत्रिय तेज और बलसे तप रहे हैं, उन सबके तेज और तप ब्राह्मणोंके पास जाते ही शान्त हो जाते हैं
kṣatriyāṇāṃ pratapatāṃ tejasā ca balena ca | brāhmaṇeṣv eva śāmyanti tejāṃsi ca tapāṃsi ca ||
తేజస్సు, బలంతో మండే క్షత్రియుల తేజమూ తపమూ బ్రాహ్మణుల సన్నిధిలోనే శాంతించిపోతాయి.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly power (tejas and bala) is meant to be tempered by spiritual discipline and moral authority (represented by Brahmanas). The verse teaches that force and pride naturally quiet down in the presence of higher ethical and ascetic standards, aligning rulership with dharma.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he states a general principle: even the most formidable Kshatriyas, blazing with strength and splendor, become pacified when they come before Brahmanas—highlighting the ideal relationship between political power and spiritual guidance.