Shloka 8
Brāhmaṇa-bheda-nirṇaya and Rājā’s Regulatory Duties (ब्राह्मणभेदनिर्णयः)
अश्वारोहा गजारोहा रथिनो5थ पदातय: । एते वैश्यसमा राजन ब्राह्मणानां भवन्त्युत,नरेश्वर! घुड़सवार, हाथीसवार, रथी और पैदल सिपाहीका काम करनेवाले ब्राह्मणोंको वैश्यके समान समझा जाता है
aśvārohā gajārohā rathino ’tha padātayaḥ | ete vaiśyasamā rājan brāhmaṇānāṃ bhavanty uta naraśvara ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Tâu Đại vương, bậc chúa tể loài người! Những Bà-la-môn nào đảm nhận nghề nghiệp của binh sĩ—làm kỵ binh, tượng binh, xa thủ (người điều khiển chiến xa), hay bộ binh—thì được xem là ngang hàng với giai cấp Vaiśya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that social classification is tied to conduct and livelihood: when Brahmins adopt military service as their work (horse, elephant, chariot, or infantry roles), they are no longer treated as functioning in Brahminical duty and are instead regarded as equivalent to Vaiśyas.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the king on dharma and social duties. Here he specifies how Brahmins who take up soldiering are viewed in the varṇa framework, emphasizing the ethical link between one’s chosen occupation and one’s recognized social role.