Shloka 13
राजधर्मप्रश्नः — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry into Rājadharma (Śānti-parva 56)
देवतान्यर्चयित्वा हि ब्राह्मणांश्व कुरूद्वह आनृण्यं याति धर्मस्य लोकेन च समर्च्यते,कुरुकुलभूषण! देवताओं और ब्राह्मणोंका पूजन करके राजा धर्मके ऋणसे मुक्त होता है और सारा जगत् उसका सम्मान करता है
devatāny arcayitvā hi brāhmaṇāṃś ca kurūdvahe | ānṛṇyaṃ yāti dharmasya lokena ca samarcayate ||
Dijo Bhishma: “Oh, el mejor de los Kuru: al rendir culto debidamente a los dioses y honrar a los brahmanes, un rey queda libre de la deuda que tiene con el dharma; y, a su vez, el mundo entero le tributa respeto.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler sustains dharma by honoring the divine order (devas) and supporting the custodians of sacred learning and conduct (Brahmanas). Such reverence and patronage discharge the king’s moral obligation to dharma and naturally earn public esteem.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance, Bhishma addresses a Kuru prince/king and explains a practical principle of rajadharma: worship of the gods and honoring Brahmanas leads to moral ‘freedom from debt’ and widespread respect.