Shloka 16
Kṣātra-dharma as the Public Foundation of Dharma (क्षात्रधर्म-प्रशंसा)
वेदानधीत्य धर्मेण राजशास्त्राणि चानघ । संतानादीनि कर्माणि कृत्वा सोम॑ निषेव्य च
vedān adhītya dharmeṇa rājaśāstrāṇi cānagha | santānādīni karmāṇi kṛtvā somaṁ niṣevya ca ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—हे निष्पाप नरेश! राजाने प्रथम धर्मभावाने वेद व राजशास्त्र यांचे अध्ययन करावे. त्यानंतर संतानोत्पत्ती इत्यादी कर्तव्ये करून यज्ञात सोमपान करावे. अशा प्रकारे शास्त्रज्ञान व धर्माचरणाने युक्त होऊन तो प्रजापालन व धर्मयुक्त राजसमृद्धीच्या मार्गास योग्य ठरतो.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s authority must rest on disciplined study and dharma: first master the Vedas and political-royal science, then perform household and sacrificial duties (including Soma rites). Legitimate rule is portrayed as an outgrowth of learning, self-restraint, and prescribed obligation.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira in the broader context) and lays out a sequence for royal life: education in sacred and political knowledge, fulfillment of lineage and ritual responsibilities, and thereby becoming qualified to govern righteously.