Shloka 110
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
एवमस्त्विति वैन्यस्तु तैरुक्तो ब्रह्म॒वादिभि: । पुरोधाश्चाभवत् तस्य शुक्रो ब्रह्ममयों निधि:,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर उन वेदवादी महर्षियोंने उनसे इस प्रकार कहा, 'एवमस्तु"। फिर शुक्राचार्य उनके पुरोहित हुए, जो वैदिक ज्ञानके भण्डार हैं
evam astv iti vainyas tu tair ukto brahmavādibhiḥ | purodhāś cābhavat tasya śukro brahmamayo nidhiḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: Thus addressed by those sages who were exponents of the Veda, Vainya assented, saying, “So be it.” Thereafter Śukra became his royal priest—himself a treasury of sacred knowledge—signaling that kingship is to be guided and restrained by brahmanical counsel and Vedic wisdom rather than mere power.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rule is strengthened when the king accepts guidance from Vedic sages and appoints a learned purohita; assent to dharmic counsel (“evam astu”) marks humility and alignment of power with sacred law.
Vainya agrees to the proposal or instruction given by the brahmavādins, and as a consequence Śukra is appointed as his purohita, described as a repository of Vedic wisdom.