Shloka 109
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
वैन्यस्ततस्तानुवाच देवानृषिपुरोगमान् । ब्राह्मणा मे महाभागा नमस्या: पुरुषर्षभा:,तब वेनकुमारने उन देवताओं तथा उन अग्रवर्ती ऋषियोंसे कहा--“नरश्रेष्ठ महात्माओ! महाभाग ब्राह्मण मेरे लिये सदा वन्दनीय होंगे”
vainyas tatastān uvāca devān ṛṣipurōgamān | brāhmaṇā me mahābhāgā namasyāḥ puruṣarṣabhāḥ ||
Then Vainya addressed the gods and the sages who stood at their head: “O best of men, O great-souled ones! The illustrious Brāhmaṇas are ever worthy of my reverence.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should uphold dharma by honoring Brāhmaṇas and the spiritual-ethical authorities (ṛṣis), recognizing them as worthy of reverence; this expresses humility and supports righteous governance.
Vainya, the son of Vena, addresses the assembled gods and the sages leading them, declaring that Brāhmaṇas are always to be saluted by him—signaling his alignment with dharma and proper royal conduct.