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@Debralee_ I just read the whole scene.
So this girl born on nobility was sold as a slave to a old feudal lord who loves gold.
Since she was a noble girl she doesn't know how to do physical labour. So she break a food plate accidentally and as a punishment Gorm(the old man) whips her and Askeladd started laughing at the scene. That's when he said it.
There's another translation to the original Japanese verse
"A man slave to money is holding a whip. Acting the master to a slave he bought with money. He just doesn't realise it, every man is s slave to something"
It's a double meaning because Thorfin who is the protagonist of the story is slave yo anger, revenge and pride.
Anger at Askeladd for killing his father so he want to kill him as revenge but his pride won't let him commit murder. He will only kill him in a one v one duel like a warrior.