Shloka 14
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
हर्यश्वके पुत्र सुदेव जो देवताके तुल्य तेजस्वी और साक्षात् दूसरे धर्मराजके समान न्यायशील थे, पिताके बाद काशिराजके पदपर अभिषिक्त किये गये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca |
sa pālayāmāsa mahīṃ dharmātmā kāśinandanaḥ |
tair vītahavyair āgatya yudhi sarvair vinirjitaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Le prince juste de Kāśī, véritable fils de Kāśī, gouverna la terre selon le dharma. Mais alors les fils de Vītahavya vinrent l’assaillir ; au combat, il fut vaincu par eux tous.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of dharmic kingship—protecting and governing the realm according to righteousness—while also acknowledging that ethical rule does not guarantee immunity from hostile coalitions or political violence.
A righteous prince of Kāśī rules the kingdom, but the sons/lineage of Vītahavya arrive and attack; in the ensuing battle, they collectively defeat him.