Shloka 1
Brahmopadeśa: Adhipatitva-kathana, Dharma-lakṣaṇa, and Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña Viveka
Book 14, Chapter 43
>> ह््न हि कमी त्रिचत्वारिशो<् ध्याय: चराचर प्राणियोंके अधिपतियोंका
brahmovāca | manuṣyāṇāṃ tu rājanyaḥ kṣatriyo madhyamo guṇaḥ | kuñjaro vāhanānāṃ ca siṃhaś cāraṇyavāsinām ||
梵天说道：“诸位大圣仙啊！在人类之中，执掌王权的种姓——刹帝利（Kṣatriya）——主要以‘罗阇’之性（rajas，行动与统御之驱力）为其特征。诸乘与载具之中，大象为首；而居于荒林野地的众生之中，狮子最为尊胜。”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse correlates social function with innate temperament: the Kṣatriya, tasked with rule and protection, is marked by rajas—the energetic, assertive guṇa. It also illustrates a broader principle that each domain has a natural ‘foremost’ exemplar, suggesting an ordered cosmos where excellence is context-specific and tied to dharma.
A didactic discourse is underway in which Brahmā speaks, describing characteristics of beings and their governing principles. This verse begins a set of comparisons: it identifies the Kṣatriya’s dominant guṇa and names the elephant and lion as preeminent within their respective categories.