Shloka 32

Chapter 78: Royal Responsibility for Wealth, Social Order, and the Protection of Dvijas

Kekaya Exemplum

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच तस्माद्‌ द्विजातीन्‌ रक्षेत ते हि रक्षन्ति रक्षिता: । आशीरेषां भवेद्‌ राजन्‌ राज्ञां सम्यकृप्रवर्तताम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca tasmād dvijātīn rakṣet te hi rakṣanti rakṣitāḥ | āśīr eṣāṁ bhaved rājan rājñāṁ samyak pravartatām ||

Translation

भीष्म ने कहा— इसलिए, हे राजन्, द्विजों— विशेषतः ब्राह्मणों— की रक्षा करनी चाहिए; क्योंकि वे सुरक्षित रहने पर राजाओं की रक्षा करते हैं। और जो राजा धर्मपूर्वक आचरण करते हैं, उन्हें ब्राह्मणों का आशीर्वाद अवश्य मिलता है।

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'tasmāt', 'definition': 'therefore

• for that reason'}, {'term': 'dvijātīn', 'definition': 'the twice-born (traditionally Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas)

• here chiefly Brahmins as custodians of Veda and counsel'}, {'term': 'rakṣet', 'definition': 'should protect

• ought to safeguard'}, {'term': 'rakṣanti', 'definition': 'they protect

• they safeguard'}, {'term': 'rakṣitāḥ', 'definition': 'when protected

• being safeguarded'}, {'term': 'āśīḥ (āśīr)', 'definition': 'blessing

• auspicious favor'}, {'term': 'rājan', 'definition': 'O king (vocative)'}, {'term': 'rājñām', 'definition': 'of kings

• for rulers'}, {'term': 'samyak', 'definition': 'properly

• in accordance with dharma'}, {'term': 'pravartatām', 'definition': 'of those who act/behave

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King (Yudhishthira, addressed as rājan)
• Dvijāti (twice-born, especially Brahmins)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s duty (rājadharma) includes protecting the twice-born—especially Brahmins—because their safeguarded presence sustains counsel, learning, ritual order, and moral authority; in return they ‘protect’ the ruler through guidance and benediction, which supports stable and righteous governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhishthira) and explains a principle of reciprocal responsibility: royal protection of Brahmins leads to their protective support of the kingdom, and righteous royal conduct earns their blessings.