Shloka 22
Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
स एव हि यदा तुष्टो वचसा प्रतिनन्दति । भवत्यगदसंकाशो विषये तस्य भारत
sa eva hi yadā tuṣṭo vacasā pratinandati | bhavaty agada-saṅkāśo viṣaye tasya bhārata ||
भीष्म बोले—हे भारत! वही ब्राह्मण जब आशा-पूर्ति और यथोचित सम्मान से संतुष्ट होकर वाणी द्वारा राजा का अभिनन्दन करता है—आशीर्वाद देता है—तब वह उसके राज्य के लिए वैद्य के समान हो जाता है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s welfare is strengthened when he properly honors worthy Brahmins and receives their sincere, pleased approval and blessing; such goodwill functions like medicine for the kingdom—preventing and curing social and moral disorders.
Bhishma, instructing Yudhiṣṭhira, describes the moment when a Brahmin—content with the king’s fulfillment of expectations and proper respect—responds with approving words and blessings; Bhishma likens that Brahmin’s satisfied benediction to a physician’s healing influence upon the king’s realm.