Shloka 2
Purohita-Niyoga and the Brahma–Kṣatra Concord
Aila–Kaśyapa Saṃvāda
धर्मात्मा मन्त्रविद् येषां राज्ञां राजन् पुरोहित: । राजा चैवंगुणो येषां कुशलं तेषु सर्वश:
bhīṣma uvāca | dharmātmā mantravid yeṣāṃ rājñāṃ rājan purohitaḥ | rājā caivaṃguṇo yeṣāṃ kuśalaṃ teṣu sarvaśaḥ ||
भीष्म बोले—राजन्! जिन राजाओं का पुरोहित धर्मात्मा और मंत्र-परामर्श में कुशल होता है तथा जिनका राजा भी वैसे ही गुणों से युक्त होता है, उन राजा और प्रजा का सब प्रकार से कल्याण होता है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A kingdom prospers when both pillars of governance—the king and his chief adviser (purohita)—are grounded in dharma and competent in counsel; moral integrity joined with wise policy produces comprehensive welfare.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous governance, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira and explains that the quality of a ruler’s reign depends greatly on the character and advisory skill of the royal priest, and on the king matching those virtues.