Shloka 19
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
तस्माद् राज्ञ: सदा तेजो दुःसहं ब्रह्म॒वादिनाम् । कर्ता शास्ता विधाता च ब्राह्मणो देव उच्यते
tasmād rājñaḥ sadā tejo duḥsahaṃ brahmavādinām | kartā śāstā vidhātā ca brāhmaṇo deva ucyate ||
ビーシュマは言った。「ゆえに王にとって、ブラフマン（Brahman）を語り、これを護持する者たちの霊的な光輝と権威は、常に抗しがたい。ブラーフマナは『デーヴァ』（deva）と呼ばれる。すなわち、創り手であり、戒めて治める者であり、また世の秩序を定め支える者と見なされるのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that a king should recognize the superior spiritual authority (tejas) of Veda-upholding Brāhmaṇas; their role is portrayed as foundational to cosmic and social order—creating, regulating, and sustaining dharma—hence they are termed ‘deva’ in a normative, honorific sense.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira about the principles of righteous rule, emphasizing the king’s relationship to Brāhmaṇas and the need to respect their moral-spiritual power and counsel.