Shloka 13
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
सोम उवाच ब्राह्म॒णास्तपसा सर्वे सिध्यन्ते वाग्वला: सदा । भुजवीर्याश्व राजानो वागस्त्राश्न द्विजातय:
Soma uvāca—brāhmaṇās tapasā sarve sidhyante vāg-balāḥ sadā | bhuja-vīryāś ca rājāno vāg-astra-āś ca dvijātayaḥ ||
Wika ni Soma: “Ang lahat ng brāhmaṇa ay nagtatamo ng tagumpay sa pamamagitan ng tapas (pagpapakasakit/ascetismo); ang kanilang lakas ay laging nasa kanilang pananalita. Ang mga hari naman ay may lakas sa kapangyarihan ng bisig; at para sa mga dvija (dalawang ulit na isinilang), ang salita mismo ang kanilang sandata.”
सोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts forms of power aligned with dharma: brāhmaṇas achieve through tapas and wield vāk (speech) as their enduring strength, while kings rely on physical might; for the twice-born, disciplined speech functions as a true weapon.
Soma is instructing (in a didactic context) by defining the distinctive sources of efficacy for different social roles—ascetic discipline and authoritative speech for brāhmaṇas versus martial strength for rulers—thereby framing ethical power as role-appropriate.