Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 11

राजधर्मः—प्रजापालनं दानयज्ञश्च

Royal Duty—Protection of Subjects, Generosity, and Sacrificial Discipline

सर्ववर्णै: सदा रक्ष्यं ब्रह्म॒स्वं ब्राह्मणा यथा । न स्थेयं विषये तेन यो5पकुर्याद्‌ द्विजातिषु,सभी वर्णके लोगोंको ब्राह्मणोंके धनकी भी रक्षा उसी प्रकार करनी चाहिये जिस प्रकार स्वयं ब्राह्मणोंकी। जो ब्राह्मणोंको कष्ट पहुँचाता हो, उसे राजाको अपने राज्यमें नहीं रहने देना चाहिये

sarvavarṇaiḥ sadā rakṣyaṃ brahmasvaṃ brāhmaṇā yathā | na stheyaṃ viṣaye tena yo 'pakuryād dvijātiṣu ||

Bhīṣma sprach: Das den Brahmanen geweihte Gut (brahmasva) muss jederzeit von allen Ständen geschützt werden, so wie die Brahmanen selbst es schützen. Ein König soll in seinem Reich niemanden dulden, der den dvija, den „Zweimalgeborenen“, Schaden zufügt; ein solcher darf nicht im Königreich verbleiben.

सर्ववर्णैःby all varṇas (all social classes)
सर्ववर्णैः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootसर्ववर्ण
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
सदाalways
सदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा
रक्ष्यम्to be protected / should be protected
रक्ष्यम्:
TypeVerb
Rootरक्ष्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ब्रह्मस्वम्Brahmin property (property belonging to Brahmins)
ब्रह्मस्वम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मस्व
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
ब्राह्मणाःBrahmins
ब्राह्मणाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
यथाjust as
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
स्थेयम्should be stayed / should be allowed to remain
स्थेयम्:
TypeVerb
Rootस्था
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
विषयेin the realm/territory
विषये:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootविषय
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
तेनby him / by that person
तेन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अपकुर्यात्should do harm / would harm
अपकुर्यात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअपकृ
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
द्विजातिषुtowards/among the twice-born (esp. Brahmins)
द्विजातिषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootद्विजाति
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
B
brāhmaṇa
B
brahmasva
R
rājā
V
viṣaya (kingdom/realm)
D
dvijāti (twice-born)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches rājadharma: safeguarding brahmasva (Brahmin-endowed property) is a collective duty across all varṇas, and the king must enforce social-ethical order by not tolerating those who harm the twice-born—especially Brahmins—within his realm.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance and dharma, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira on the king’s responsibilities: protecting religious-social institutions (symbolized by brahmasva) and maintaining public order by removing offenders who persecute the dvijas.