Shloka 22
Adhyāya 9: Pratiśruta-Dāna
The Duty to Fulfill Promised Gifts
स एव हि यदा तुष्टो वचसा प्रतिनन्दति । भवत्यगदसंकाशो विषये तस्य भारत
sa eva hi yadā tuṣṭo vacasā pratinandati | bhavaty agada-saṅkāśo viṣaye tasya bhārata ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó Bhārata! Esse mesmo brāhmaṇa, satisfeito pelo cumprimento das esperanças e pelas honras devidas, quando responde com palavras de aprovação—abençoando o rei—torna-se, para o reino desse rei, como um médico: uma presença curadora cuja boa vontade e bênção protegem e restauram o bem-estar do país.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s welfare is strengthened when he properly honors worthy Brahmins and receives their sincere, pleased approval and blessing; such goodwill functions like medicine for the kingdom—preventing and curing social and moral disorders.
Bhishma, instructing Yudhiṣṭhira, describes the moment when a Brahmin—content with the king’s fulfillment of expectations and proper respect—responds with approving words and blessings; Bhishma likens that Brahmin’s satisfied benediction to a physician’s healing influence upon the king’s realm.