Shloka 22
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
इत्थं च सुरासुरविशिष्टा ब्राह्मणा य एव मया ब्रह्मभूतेन पुरा स्वयमेवोत्पादिता: सुरासुरमहर्षयो भूतविशेषा: स्थापिता निगृहीताश्च
itthaṃ ca surāsuraviśiṣṭā brāhmaṇā ya eva mayā brahmabhūtena purā svayam evotpāditāḥ; surāsuramahārṣayo bhūtaviśeṣāḥ sthāpitā nigṛhītāś ca.
Kaya sinasabi na ang mga Brāhmaṇa ay nakahihigit maging sa mga diyos at mga asura. Noong unang panahon, ako mismo—na nag-anyong Brahmā—ang nagluwal sa mga Brāhmaṇa. Ang iba’t ibang uri ng nilalang—mga diyos, mga asura, at mga dakilang rishi—ay itinindig sa kani-kanilang nasasakupan ng mga Brāhmaṇa; at kapag sila’y lumabag, sila rin ay pinigil at pinarusahan ng mga ito.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that dharma-grounded spiritual authority (embodied by Brāhmaṇas) is presented as the foundation of cosmic and social order: it can establish rightful jurisdictions and also restrain even powerful beings when they violate norms.
The speaker describes an ancient, cosmological account: having become Brahmā, he claims to have produced the Brāhmaṇas, who then installed devas, asuras, and great seers into their proper roles and disciplined them when they committed offenses.