Shloka 1
Purohita-Niyoga and the Brahma–Kṣatra Concord
Aila–Kaśyapa Saṃvāda
/ हि ही बक। हि मा मी - यस्या ग्रियते कन्याया वाचा सत्ये कृते पति: | तामनेन विधानेन निजो विन्देत देवर: ।। (मनु० ९।६९) त्रिसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: विद्वान सदाचारी पुरोहितकी आवश्यकता तथा ब्राह्मण और क्षत्रियमें मेल रहनेसे लाभविषयक राजा पुरूरवाका उपाख्यान भीष्म उवाच राज्ञा पुरोहित: कार्यो भवेद् विद्वान् बहुश्रुतः । उभौ समीक्ष्य धर्मार्थावप्रमेयावनन्तरम्,भीष्मजी बोले--राजन्। राजाको चाहिये कि धर्म और अर्थकी गतिको अत्यन्त गहन समझकर अविलम्ब किसी ऐसे ब्राह्मणको पुरोहित बना ले, जो विद्वान् और बहुश्रुत हो
bhīṣma uvāca | rājñā purohitaḥ kāryo bhaved vidvān bahuśrutaḥ | ubhau samīkṣya dharmārthāv aprameyāv anantaram ||
Bhishma said: “O King, a ruler should promptly appoint as his royal priest a learned Brahmin, widely versed in sacred and traditional lore. For the courses of dharma and artha are exceedingly subtle and hard to measure; therefore, having carefully examined both, the king should not delay in securing such guidance.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should promptly appoint a learned and well-versed purohita, because discerning and balancing dharma (righteous duty/order) and artha (practical welfare/policy) is subtle and difficult; wise counsel safeguards both.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma begins advising the king on the necessity of a competent royal priest—someone learned and experienced—so that royal decisions align with both ethical duty and effective statecraft.