The Intersection of Sovereign Power and Sacred Law in the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad
The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad, dating back to the seventh to sixth centuries BCE, provides a profound exploration of the intricate relationship between sovereign power (ksatra) and sacred law (dharma). This ancient text is crucial for understanding how the union of varna (class) and dharma (duty/law) shapes societal and cosmic order.
I discuss four verses today along with their translations. This comes very surprising to me that Brahmin Varna considered Kshatriya as superior. Unlike whatever is taught in British created history lessons on castes, these verses do not mention anything about birth based system that is inherited. Also note how Brahmin himself considers Kshatriya to be superior and then Vaishya.
First let me give the verses. These are verses from 1.4.11 to 1.4.14.
ब्रह्म व इदमग्र आसीदेकमेव; तदेकं सन्न व्यभवत् । तच्छ्रेयोरूपमत्यसृजत क्षत्रम्, यान्येतानि देवत्रा क्षत्राणि—इन्द्रो वरुणः सोमो रुद्रः पर्जन्यो यमो मृइत्युरीशान इति । तस्मात्क्षत्रात्परं नस्ति; तस्मात्ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियमधस्तादुपास्ते राजसूये, क्षत्र एव तद्यशो दधाति; सैषा क्षत्रस्य योनिर्यद्ब्रह्म । तस्माद्यद्यपि राजा परमताम् गच्छति ब्रह्मैवान्तत उपनिश्रयति स्वाम् योनिम्; य उ एनं हिनस्ति स्वां स योनिमृच्छति, स पापीयान् भवति, यथा स्रेयांसं हिंसित्वा ॥ ११ ॥
स नैव व्यभवत्, स विशमसृजत, यान्येतानि देवजातानि गणश आख्यायन्ते—वसवो रुद्रा आदित्या विश्वेदेवा मरुत इति ॥ १२ ॥
स नैव व्यभवत्, स शौद्रं वर्णमसृजत पूषणम्; इयं वै पूषा, इयं हीदं सर्वं पुष्यति यदिदं किंच ॥ १३ ॥
स नैव व्यभवत्, तत्छ्रेयोरूपमत्यसृजत धर्मम्; तदेतत् क्षत्रस्य क्षत्रं यद्धर्मः, तस्माद्धर्माद्परं नास्ति; अथो अबलीयान् बलीयांसमाशंसते धर्मेण, यथा राज्ञैवम्; यो वै स धर्मः सत्यं वै तत्, तस्मात् सत्यं वदन्तमाहुः, धर्मं वदतीति, धर्मं वा वदन्तम् सत्यं वदतीति, एतद्ध्येवैतदुभयं भवति ॥ १५ ॥
Now let me summarize these verses.
Creation and Hierarchy of Powers
In the beginning, the world existed as only brahman, a unified and undeveloped entity. Brahman then created ksatra, a force superior to itself, embodied by the kshatriyas (warriors) among the gods, such as Indra, Varuna, Soma, Rudra, Parjanya, Yama, Mrtyu, and Iśana. Despite ksatra's supremacy, brahman remains the origin or "womb" of ksatra. Thus, any king, regardless of his power, ultimately returns to brahman, emphasizing that harming brahman equates to self-destruction.
The Creation of Varna
Brahman continued to evolve, creating the vaisya class, represented by gods grouped as the Vasus, Rudras, Adityas, All-gods, and Maruts. Yet, brahman still did not achieve full development. It then created the sudra class, exemplified by Pūsan. Despite these creations, brahman remained incomplete.
The Emergence of Dharma
Finally, brahman created dharma, a force superior to and surpassing itself. In the text, dharma is described as the ksatra of ksatra, the "sovereign power of sovereign power." This denotes the ultimate authority of dharma over ksatra. Therefore, a weaker individual can invoke dharma to demand justice from a stronger one, similar to appealing to a king.
Political Theology and Supremacy of Dharma
This passage from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad elucidates a political theology where ksatra is initially seen as a force greater than brahman. However, this supremacy is negated in two significant ways:
-
Origin from Brahman: Ksatra originates from brahman, and thus, harming brahman endangers ksatra itself. This relationship underscores that the warrior class (ksatra) is inherently linked to and dependent on the priestly class (brahman).
-
Supremacy of Dharma: Brahman generates dharma, which stands above ksatra. Dharma, as the ksatra of ksatra, signifies that even the highest sovereign power (kings) is governed by a higher law (dharma). This establishes a foundational principle that religious and moral law (dharma) governs political power (ksatra).
Union of Varna and Dharma
The union of varna and dharma in this context underscores a key relationship between religion and politics. The sovereign power of kings is not absolute but is subject to the guiding principles of dharma. This ancient wisdom from the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad highlights the enduring idea that true sovereignty lies in adherence to higher moral and ethical laws, ensuring justice and harmony in society.