Shloka 21
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
एवं यो धर्मविद् राजा ब्रद्मपूर्व प्रवर्तते । जयत्यविजितामुर्वी यशश्न महदश्लुते,इस प्रकार जो धर्मज्ञ राजा पहले ब्राह्मणका आश्रय लेकर उसकी सहायतासे राज्यकार्यमें प्रवृत्त होता है, वह बिना जीती हुई पृथ्वीको भी जीतकर महान् यशका भागी होता है
evaṁ yo dharmavid rājā brahma-pūrvaṁ pravartate | jayaty avijitām urvīṁ yaśaś ca mahad aśnute ||
قال بهيشما: إنّ الملك العارف بالدارما، لا ينهض بأعباء الحكم إلا بعد أن يقدّم البراهمة (البراهمة ومشورتهم المقدّسة) ويطلب هدايتهم ومعونتهم؛ فيغلب حتى أرضًا لم تُغلب من قبل، وينال صيتًا عظيمًا.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s power should be grounded in dharma: governance ought to begin with brahma—sacred learning, ethical counsel, and the guidance of the wise. When a king acts with such prior orientation, his victories are legitimate and his fame becomes enduring.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about the foundations of successful rule. Here he states that a dharma-knowing king who first relies on Brahmin guidance and then undertakes statecraft gains conquest and great renown.