Shloka 1
Rājapurohita-lakṣaṇa and Purūravas–Vāyu Saṃvāda
Varṇa, Sovereignty, and Abhaya-dāna
ऑपन--माजल छा सं: द्विसप्ततितमो< ध्याय: राजाके लिये सदाचारी विद्वान पुरोहितकी आवश्यकता तथा प्रजापालनका महत्त्व भीष्म उवाच य एव तु सतो रक्षेदसतश्न निवर्तयेत् स एव राज्ञ: कर्तव्यो राजन् राजपुरोहित:
bhīṣma uvāca | ya eva tu sato rakṣed asataś ca nivartayet sa eva rājñaḥ kartavyo rājan rājapurohitaḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ、王は学識と徳を備えたバラモンを王家の祭官（プーロヒタ）として任じるべきである。その者は王を正しい行いにおいて守り、不義の行いから引き戻す—王の善を護り、害を防ぐ者である。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should appoint as his royal priest a learned guide who protects him in righteous action and restrains him from unrighteousness; moral oversight at the top is essential for good governance.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma addresses the king and begins outlining the qualifications and necessity of a royal priest who can counsel, correct, and keep the ruler aligned with dharma.