Shloka 34
Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas
Kekaya Exemplum
अतः राजाओंको चाहिये कि वे विपरीत कर्म करने-वाले ब्राह्मणोंको उनपर अनुग्रह करनेके लिये ही नियन्त्रणमें रखें और उनकी आवश्यकताकी वस्तुएँ उन्हें देते रहें ।।
ataḥ rājñāṁ ca kāryaṁ yat viparīta-karma-kāriṇaḥ brāhmaṇān anugrahārtham eva niyantrayet, teṣāṁ cāvaśyakāni dravyāṇi satataṁ dadāt. evaṁ yo vartate rājā paurajānapadeṣv iha, sa iha bhadrāṇy anubhūya ante indrasa-lokatāṁ prāpnoti.
Bhishma enseigne que les rois doivent contenir les brahmanes qui agissent à l’encontre de la juste conduite—non par hostilité, mais uniquement pour les corriger et les protéger—et continuer à leur fournir les nécessités de l’existence. Le souverain qui se comporte ainsi, selon le dharma, envers les gens des villes et des campagnes, jouit du bien-être en ce monde et, au terme de sa vie, atteint le royaume d’Indra.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king must uphold dharma by regulating even Brahmins when they act wrongly, but the motive must be anugraha—benevolent correction and protection—while still ensuring their basic needs are met. Such balanced, principled governance yields welfare here and heavenly merit hereafter.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on how a ruler should treat different social groups. Here he emphasizes disciplined yet compassionate oversight of erring Brahmins and fair dharmic conduct toward both urban and rural subjects, linking righteous rule to prosperity and Indra’s realm.