Shloka 22
Rājā–Rāja-Śabda-Prabhavaḥ — The Origin and Rationale of Kingship and Daṇḍanīti
नष्टे ब्रह्मणि धर्मे च देवांस्त्रास: समाविशत् | ते त्रस्ता नरशार्दूल ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययु:,इस प्रकार जब वेद और धर्मका नाश होने लगा, तब देवताओंके मनमें भय समा गया। पुरुषसिंह! वे भयभीत होकर ब्रह्माजीकी शरणमें गये
naṣṭe brahmaṇi dharme ca devāṁs trāsaḥ samāviśat | te trastā naraśārdūla brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ yayuḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: Apabila pengetahuan suci (brahman/veda) dan dharma mula lenyap, ketakutan meresap ke dalam hati para dewa. Wahai harimau di antara manusia, mereka yang gentar itu pergi berlindung kepada Brahmā.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When Vedic wisdom and dharma decline, disorder and fear arise even among the gods; the remedy is to seek the highest principled authority (Brahmā here) for the re-establishment of moral and cosmic order.
Bhīṣma describes a crisis: as brahman (Vedic order/knowledge) and dharma are being destroyed, the devas become frightened and approach Brahmā for protection and guidance, setting up a restoration narrative.