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Shloka 4

Purohita-Niyoga and the Brahma–Kṣatra Concord

Aila–Kaśyapa Saṃvāda

परस्परस्य सुहृदौ विहितौ समचेतसौ । ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य सम्मानात्‌ प्रजा सुखमवाप्नुयात्‌,यदि राजा और पुरोहित धर्मनिष्ठ, श्रद्धेय तथा तपस्वी हों, एक-दूसरेके प्रति सौहार्द रखते हों और समान ह्ृदयवाले हों तो वे दोनों मिलकर प्रजाकी वृद्धि करते हैं तथा सम्पूर्ण देवताओं एवं पितरोंको तृप्त करके पुत्र और प्रजावर्गको भी अभ्युदयशील बनाते हैं। ऐसे ब्राह्मण (पुरोहित) और क्षत्रिय (राजा) का सम्मान करनेसे प्रजाको सुखकी प्राप्ति होती है

parasparasya suhṛdau vihitau samacetasau | brahmakṣatrasya sammānāt prajā sukham avāpnuyāt ||

Bhishma dijo: «Cuando el rey y el sacerdote real están establecidos como mutuos bienhechores, con ánimo equilibrado y pensamiento concorde, entonces, al honrar la alianza de bráhmana y kṣatriya, el pueblo alcanza la felicidad. En tal concordia, gobernante y sacerdote fomentan juntos el crecimiento y el bienestar de los súbditos, sostienen el dharma mediante una conducta disciplinada y aseguran la prosperidad de la comunidad.»

परस्परस्यof each other / mutually
परस्परस्य:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootपरस्पर
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
सुहृदौtwo friends / well-wishers
सुहृदौ:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसुहृद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
विहितौappointed / established / duly set
विहितौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवि-धा (धातु) → विहित (क्त)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
समचेतसौof equal mind / like-minded
समचेतसौ:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootसमचेतस्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Dual
ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्यof Brahminhood and Kshatriyahood (priesthood and kingship)
ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य:
Sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मक्षत्र
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
सम्मानात्from/through honoring; due to respect
सम्मानात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootसम्मान
FormMasculine, Ablative, Singular
प्रजाthe people / subjects
प्रजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
सुखम्happiness / comfort
सुखम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootसुख
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
अवाप्नुयात्would obtain / may attain
अवाप्नुयात्:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-आप् (धातु)
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
B
Brāhmaṇa (priest/purohita)
K
Kṣatriya (king/ruler)
P
Prajā (subjects)

Educational Q&A

Public welfare depends on the harmonious partnership of spiritual authority (Brāhmaṇa/purohita) and political authority (Kṣatriya/king). When both are virtuous, mutually friendly, and aligned in purpose, their cooperation sustains dharma and brings happiness to the people.

In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous governance. Here he emphasizes that the king’s rule becomes beneficial when guided by a respected, like-minded priestly counsel, and that honoring this Brāhmaṇa–Kṣatriya concord results in the subjects’ prosperity.