The interdependent relationship between Brahmana and Kshatriya

A gang has been formed on social media that is creating rifts between Brahmins and Rajputs. Today, after researching many texts, I would like to answer them. Even though after conducting research, I found 25-30 verses and several episodes that illustrate the interdependent relationship between Brahmins and Kshatriyas, given the limits of this article, I will be able to present only a few.

There is a mantra in the Yajurveda:

"यत्रं ब्रह्मचक्षत्रं च सम्यंचौ चरतः सह। तं लोकं पुण्यं प्रज्ञेषं यत्र देवाः सहाग्निना।" Which means: "Where the radiance of Brahman (brahmateja) and the might of Kshatriya (kshetrabala) move together in harmony, where the Deva (Brahmin) is with Agni (Kshatriya), I know that land to be sacred and I shall dwell there."

There are also numerous verses in the Vanaparva of the Mahabharata—

"ब्रह्मक्षत्रेण संसृष्ट क्षत्रं च ब्रहम्णा सह। उदीर्णे दहतः शत्रून् वनानीवानिमारूत्तौ।" Meaning: When the Brahmana is united with the Kshatriya and the Kshatriya with the Brahmana, these two fierce forces consume all enemies just as fire and wind consume forests.

"ब्राह्मण्यनुपमा दृष्टिः क्षात्र मप्रतिबलम्। तौ यदा चरतः सार्ध तदा लोकः प्रसीदति।" Meaning: The cognitive vision (jnana-drishti) of the Brahmin is peerless and the strength of the Kshatriya is unmatched. When these two walk together, the world rejoices.

"अग्रतः चतुरो वेदाः प्रष्ठतः सशरोधनु। इंदं ब्राह्मां इदं क्षात्रं  शास्त्रदपि स्वराष्ट्रधर्मपि।" Meaning: Confirm dharma with the authority of the four Vedas in front and the bow and arrow at the back. Let the Brahmin protect his svadharma and nation through the power of shastra (scriptures) and the Kshatriya through the power of shastra (weapons).

Brahmins have considered Kshatriyas even dearer than their own sons

In this context, I would like to share one episode each from the Raghuvamsa and the Mahabharata. "A Kshatriya boy was receiving lessons in political wisdom at the home of a Brahmin. The grain stored in that Brahmin sage's house gets washed away in a torrential downpour, causing the Brahmin's child and the Kshatriya boy to be tormented by hunger. Seeing both boys hungry, the Brahmin goes out to beg and brings back two rotis (flatbreads). Then he remembers that no food was cooked at home today, which means the mandatory offering to the cow (go-grasa) has not been given either. So he feeds one roti to his cow. He places the remaining single roti in his wife's hands. Both husband and wife consider feeding it to either child. Just as the wife begins to feed their own son, the Brahmin says— 'Stop, Devi! This is adharma (unrighteousness); the entire right to this roti belongs to that Kshatriya boy, because he is a future king. If he falls prey to hunger, the kingdom will be orphaned. The royal throne will remain vacant. Whereas if our child falls victim, it is only our personal loss.' Saying this, he snatches the roti from his wife and goes and feeds it to the Kshatriya boy. Later on, that boy grows up to become King Dilipa, and the miracle of that charitable roti given by the Brahmin was that King Dilipa became so benevolent that he was ready to offer his own body to a lion just to save a cow."

The second episode is from the Mahabharata— "Once Ashwatthama says to his father Guru Dronacharya, 'Father, after Maharshi Parashurama, you are the greatest archer. If you have to make anyone the supreme archer, make me instead of Arjuna.' To this, Dronacharya replies, 'Ashwatthama, you are merely my son. But Arjuna is the son of the entire Hastinapura. What will you achieve even if you become the supreme archer? But if Arjuna becomes one, he will protect the country and dharma.' This was the highest form of the interdependent relationship between Brahmins and Kshatriyas, and this very form is found everywhere throughout Indian history."

Whenever the existence of Kshatriya lineages was in peril, Brahmins stepped forward to protect them

(1) When King Vena of the Suryavamsha (Solar dynasty) passed away leaving no heir, the rishis (sages) churned his body and, through the power of mantras, manifested Prithu, who ruled the entire earth.

(2) Similarly, by churning the body of another childless king of the Suryavamsha, the rishis generated Mithi, who founded the kingdom of Mithila.

(3) When King Dasharatha was unable to have children, the lineage was saved through the counsel of Jamata Muni (Muni Rishyashringa).

(4) The very origin of the Chandravamsa (Lunar dynasty) Kshatriyas stems from a Brahmin ascetic. Chandra was born to Maharshi Atri, and the lineage that descended from him became renowned as the Chandravamsa.

(5) When the existence of the Bharata lineage faced a crisis due to Bhishma's vow of celibacy (brahmacharya), Maharshi Vedavyasa protected that lineage.

(6) All Brahmins consider Pitamaha Bhishma as their ancestor and definitely perform his shraddha (rites for the ancestors), because no Hindu's shraddha is complete without performing the shraddha of Pitamaha Bhishma.

Rajputs used to put their own lives at stake to protect Brahmins

They gave priority to the protection of Brahmins. While there are numerous accounts in the texts, I would like to discuss this from medieval history.

(1) Once Maharana Pratap and Shakti Singh were fighting when the royal priest (rajpurohit) Narayanadas Paliwal was struck by Shakti Singh's sword while trying to intervene. Maharana Pratap was so angered by this incident that he immediately banished his brother Shakti Singh from the kingdom.

(2) When King Kanhadadeva refused to marry his son Viramdeva to Khilji's daughter Firoza, Khilji attacked Barmer in 1310, destroyed the magnificent Mahavira temple, and imprisoned 45,000 Shrimali Vedic-scholar Brahmins from Bhinmal in the village of Khudala in Mewar. Then, to rescue those Brahmins, King Kanhadadeva Chauhan sent invitations to all surrounding kings. The Solanki, Gohil, Rathore, Parmar, Chandel, and Chavda kings joined forces with King Kanhadadeva, attacked Khilji's army in Khudala village, and liberated the 45,000 Brahmins. Salha Singh, Shobhit, Lakhan Singh, and Ajay Singh Molhawal were martyred in this battle.

(3) While returning after his defeat in Mewar, Mahmud attacked the Banmata temple near Kelwada village close to Kumbhalgarh on November 30, 1442, destroyed the temple, and took 140 people from 50 Brahmin families living near the temple as prisoners. At that time, two Rajput chieftains, Bhala Singh Parihar and Veer Deep Singh, fought a fierce battle and rescued the Brahmins, but were so grievously injured that they attained martyrdom.

(4) On August 16, 1679, when Aurangzeb's faujdar (commander) Tahwar Khan attacked the pilgrimage site of Pushkar and imprisoned 80 Brahmin families living there, Rai Singh Rathore, Hari Singh Rathore, and Kesari Singh Rathore of Alniyawas fought a fierce three-day battle to protect the Pushkar tirtha (sacred site) and rescued the 80 Brahmin families.

(5) In 1679, when Kartalab Khan and Darab Khan attacked the Kanthola temple, imprisoned 11 temple priests, and interrogated them for treasure, Sujan Singh Shekhawat, Indrabhan, Sujan Singh, and others made sacrifices to thwart the attack and liberate the Brahmins.

Therefore, in brief, I would like to say that there is an interdependent (anyonashraya) relationship between Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Both have given mutual honor and respect. Anyone pointing a finger at Kshatriya history and the heroism of kings can never possess Brahmin DNA, and any Kshatriya showing disrespect or dishonor to Brahmins cannot possess Kshatriya DNA.

 - Sanjeet Singh

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