Shloka 7

Purohita-Niyoga and the Brahma–Kṣatra Concord

Aila–Kaśyapa Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

ऐल उवाच यदा हि ब्रह्म प्रजहाति क्षत्रं क्षत्रं यदा वा प्रजहाति ब्रह्म । अन्वग्बलं कतमे5स्मिन्‌ भजन्ते तथा वर्णा: कतमे5स्मिन्‌ प्रियन्ते

Transliteration

aila uvāca | yadā hi brahma prajahāti kṣatraṁ kṣatraṁ yadā vā prajahāti brahma | anvag-balaṁ katame 'smin bhajante tathā varṇāḥ katame 'smin priyante ||

Translation

阿伊拉说道：“当婆罗门阶层舍弃刹帝利阶层——或刹帝利阶层舍弃婆罗门阶层——那时正当的力量与权威归于谁？在此情势下，诸种姓中哪些会依附于他，哪些会亲近并忠诚于他？”

Word by Word

• ऐलः: Aila (king Aila/Purūravas)
• ऐलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• हि: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• ब्रह्म: Brahmanhood; the Brahmin order
• ब्रह्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्रजहाति: abandons, gives up
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (जहाति)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular

• क्षत्रम्: kṣatra; the Kshatriya power/order
• क्षत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• क्षत्रम्: kṣatra; the Kshatriya power/order
• क्षत्रम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• प्रजहाति: abandons, gives up
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (जहाति)
• Form: Present, Third, Singular

• ब्रह्म: Brahmanhood; the Brahmin order
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्वक्: afterwards; following
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्वक्

• बलम्: strength, power
• बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कतमे: which (ones) among (them)?
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अस्मिन्: in this (situation/among these)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Locative, Singular

• भजन्ते: partake of; resort to; share
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Ātmanepada

• तथा: so; likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• वर्णाः: the social classes (varṇas)
• वर्णाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कतमे: which (ones) among (them)?
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कतम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अस्मिन्: in this (situation/among these)
• अस्मिन्: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Locative, Singular

• प्रियन्ते: are pleased; rejoice
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Ātmanepada

Speaker

ऐल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• ऐल (Aila)
• ब्रह्म (Brahmin order/authority)
• क्षत्र (Kshatriya order/authority)
• वर्णाः (the varṇas)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse probes the ethical foundation of political and social authority: when priestly (brahma) and royal (kṣatra) powers separate or reject each other, legitimacy becomes unstable, and society’s allegiance (varṇas ‘siding with’ and ‘becoming loyal’) shifts toward whichever principle/person can sustain order and recognized strength.

What is happening in the narrative?

Aila raises a pointed question within a discourse on dharma and governance: he asks who truly holds effective power and social support when the traditional alliance between Brahmin authority and Kshatriya rule breaks down.