Shloka 32

Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas

Kekaya Exemplum

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच तस्माद्‌ द्विजातीन्‌ रक्षेत ते हि रक्षन्ति रक्षिता: । आशीरेषां भवेद्‌ राजन्‌ राज्ञां सम्यकृप्रवर्तताम्‌,भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्‌! इसलिये ब्राह्मणोंकी सदा रक्षा करनी चाहिये। सुरक्षित रहनेपर वे राजाओंकी रक्षा करते हैं। ठीक-ठीक बर्ताव करनेवाले राजाओंको ब्राह्मणोंका आशीर्वाद प्राप्त होता है

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca tasmād dvijātīn rakṣet te hi rakṣanti rakṣitāḥ | āśīr eṣāṁ bhaved rājan rājñāṁ samyak pravartatām ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “Therefore, O king, the twice-born—especially the Brahmins—should be protected. When they are protected, they in turn protect the rulers. And for kings who conduct themselves rightly, the blessing of the Brahmins is assured.”

Word by Word

[{'term''tasmāt', 'definition': 'therefore

for that reason'}, {'term''dvijātīn', 'definition': 'the twice-born (traditionally Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas)

here chiefly Brahmins as custodians of Veda and counsel'}, {'term''rakṣet', 'definition': 'should protect

ought to safeguard'}, {'term''rakṣanti', 'definition': 'they protect

they safeguard'}, {'term''rakṣitāḥ', 'definition': 'when protected

being safeguarded'}, {'term''āśīḥ (āśīr)', 'definition': 'blessing

auspicious favor'}, {'term''rājan', 'definition': 'O king (vocative)'}, {'term': 'rājñām', 'definition': 'of kings

for rulers'}, {'term''samyak', 'definition': 'properly

in accordance with dharma'}, {'term''pravartatām', 'definition': 'of those who act/behave

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

King (Yudhishthira, addressed as rājan)

Dvijāti (twice-born, especially Brahmins)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s duty (rājadharma) includes protecting the twice-born—especially Brahmins—because their safeguarded presence sustains counsel, learning, ritual order, and moral authority; in return they ‘protect’ the ruler through guidance and benediction, which supports stable and righteous governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhishthira) and explains a principle of reciprocal responsibility: royal protection of Brahmins leads to their protective support of the kingdom, and righteous royal conduct earns their blessings.