Shloka 18
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्या ये चान्ये श्रुतसत्तमा: । पूजाह[: पूजिता यस्य स वै लोकविदुच्यते
ṛtvik-purohita-ācāryā ye cānye śruta-sattamāḥ | pūjitā yasya sa vai loka-vid ucyate ||
ビーシュマは言った。「祭官（ṛtvij）、王室祭司（purohita）、師（ācārya）、そして聖なる学識に秀でた諸師を、しかるべく敬い供養する統治者は、世の真の道筋を知る者と呼ばれる。その敬意は、ダルマを守り伝える者を支えることで、正しい統治を保つ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king becomes truly wise in worldly and moral order (loka-vit) by honouring ritual priests, the royal chaplain, teachers, and other eminent scholars—because supporting custodians of sacred knowledge sustains dharma and stabilizes righteous rule.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira by defining a mark of an ideal ruler: reverence toward priests, preceptors, and learned authorities who guide ritual, counsel, and ethical governance.