Shloka 12
Brāhmaṇa-bheda-nirṇaya and Rājā’s Regulatory Duties (ब्राह्मणभेदनिर्णयः)
यस्य सम विषये राजन् स्तेनो भवति वै द्विज: । राज्ञ एवापराध॑ त॑ मन्यन्ते तद्धिदो जना:,राजन्! जिस किसी भी राजाके राज्यमें यदि ब्राह्मण चोर बन जाता है तो उसकी इस परिस्थितिके लिये जानकार लोग उस राजाका ही अपराध ठहराते हैं
yasya sama-viṣaye rājan steno bhavati vai dvijaḥ | rājña evāparādhaṃ taṃ manyante tadvido janāḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王よ。もし統治する国の内で、バラモンが盗人として生きるようになったなら、治国の理を知る者はそれを王の過失と断ずる。道義の重荷は主権者に帰する。社会の秩序が崩れ、学ある者さえ罪に走るとき、それは保護と裁きと、ダルマにかなう統治が失われた徴である。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler is morally accountable for the condition of society within his jurisdiction. If even a brahmin—ideally devoted to learning and restraint—turns to theft, it indicates a breakdown of protection, justice, and welfare, for which the king bears primary blame.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the king (Yudhishthira) about the standards of righteous governance. He emphasizes that public disorder and criminality, especially among the traditionally virtuous classes, reflect the king’s failure in administration.