Shloka 12
Brāhmaṇa-bheda-nirṇaya and Rājā’s Regulatory Duties (ब्राह्मणभेदनिर्णयः)
यस्य सम विषये राजन् स्तेनो भवति वै द्विज: । राज्ञ एवापराध॑ त॑ मन्यन्ते तद्धिदो जना:
yasya sama-viṣaye rājan steno bhavati vai dvijaḥ | rājña evāparādhaṃ taṃ manyante tadvido janāḥ ||
Bhishma said: “O King, if within a ruler’s own realm a brahmin comes to live as a thief, those who understand the principles of governance judge that condition to be the king’s fault. The moral burden falls on the sovereign: when social order collapses and even the learned turn to crime, it signals failure of protection, justice, and righteous administration.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler is morally accountable for the condition of society within his jurisdiction. If even a brahmin—ideally devoted to learning and restraint—turns to theft, it indicates a breakdown of protection, justice, and welfare, for which the king bears primary blame.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the king (Yudhishthira) about the standards of righteous governance. He emphasizes that public disorder and criminality, especially among the traditionally virtuous classes, reflect the king’s failure in administration.