Shloka 17
Brahmopadeśa: Adhipatitva-kathana, Dharma-lakṣaṇa, and Kṣetra–Kṣetrajña Viveka
Book 14, Chapter 43
धर्मकामाश्ष राजानो ब्राह्मणा धर्मसेतव: । तस्माद् राजा द्विजातीनां प्रयतेत सम रक्षणे
dharmakāmāś ca rājāno brāhmaṇā dharmasetavaḥ | tasmād rājā dvijātīnāṃ prayateta sadā rakṣaṇe ||
Vāyu dit : «Les rois doivent être voués au dharma et aux fins légitimes, et les brāhmaṇas sont le pont même qui soutient le dharma. C’est pourquoi un roi doit toujours s’efforcer de protéger les deux-fois-nés ; en les sauvegardant, il sauvegarde la continuité du dharma.»
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches rājadharma: a king preserves dharma by actively protecting the dvijas—especially brāhmaṇas—who are described as the sustaining ‘bridge’ of dharma through learning, counsel, and ritual continuity.
Vāyudeva is speaking, offering instruction on ideal governance. He frames the king’s ethical responsibility as safeguarding the social and religious foundations of the realm by ensuring the security and honor of the twice-born.