Shloka 1
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
(दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठके ७३ “लोक मिलाकर कुल ३९३ “लोक हैं।) नशा (0) आज अन+- चतु:सप्ततितमो< ध्याय: ब्राह्मण और क्षत्रियके मेलसे लाभका प्रतिपादन करनेवाला मुचुकुन्दका उपाख्यान भीष्म उवाच योगक्षेमो हि राष्ट्रस्य राजन्यायत्त उच्यते । योगक्षेमो हि राज्ञो हि समायत्त: पुरोहिते
bhīṣma uvāca | yogakṣemo hi rāṣṭrasya rājanyātta ucyate | yogakṣemo hi rājño hi samāyattaḥ purohite ||
Bhishma said: O king, the welfare and security of a kingdom are said to depend upon the ruler. Yet the ruler’s own welfare and security, in turn, depend upon the royal priest.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The kingdom’s welfare depends on the king’s rule, but the king’s own welfare depends on the purohita—signaling that political power must be guided and protected by dharmic counsel, learning, and proper conduct.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma addresses the king and begins a teaching that links statecraft to priestly guidance, setting up a discussion on cooperation between royal authority and brahminical counsel.