Shloka 12
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
आदावेव कुरुश्रेष्ठ राज्ञा रञज्जनकाम्यया । देवतानां द्विजानां च वर्तितव्यं यथाविधि,कुरुश्रेष्ठ॒ राजाको सबसे पहले प्रजाका रञ्जन अर्थात् उसे प्रसन्न रखनेकी इच्छासे देवताओं और ब्राह्मणोंके प्रति शास्त्रोक्त विधिके अनुसार बर्ताव करना चाहिये (अर्थात् वह देवताओंका विधिपूर्वक पूजन तथा ब्राह्मणोंका आदर-सत्कार करे)
ādāveva kuruśreṣṭha rājñā rañjanakāmyayā | devatānāṃ dvijānāṃ ca vartitavyaṃ yathāvidhi ||
Bhīṣma said: “O best of the Kurus, a king, from the very outset and with the desire to delight and win the hearts of his subjects, should conduct himself in the scripturally prescribed manner toward the gods and toward the twice-born—performing due worship of the deities and showing proper honor and support to the Brahmins.”
भीष्म उवाच