Shloka 18

Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)

Devanagari script

ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्या ये चान्ये श्रुतसत्तमा: । पूजाह[: पूजिता यस्य स वै लोकविदुच्यते,जो राजा ऋत्विज, पुरोहित, आचार्य तथा अन्यान्य पूजाके पात्र शास्त्रज्ञोंका सत्कार करता है, वही लोक-गतिको जाननेवाला कहा जाता है

Transliteration

ṛtvik-purohita-ācāryā ye cānye śruta-sattamāḥ | pūjitā yasya sa vai loka-vid ucyate ||

Translation

Disse Bhishma: É chamado conhecedor do verdadeiro curso do mundo o governante que honra e reverencia devidamente os sacerdotes oficiantes (ṛtvij), o capelão real (purohita), os mestres (ācārya) e outros eminentes guardiões do saber sagrado. Tal reverência sustenta o governo justo ao elevar aqueles que preservam e transmitem o dharma.

Word by Word

ऋत्विक्sacrificial priests (ṛtviks)

पुरोहितhousehold priests

आचार्याःteachers/preceptors

येwho

चand

अन्येothers

श्रुतसत्तमाःthe best among the learned (in scripture)

पूजिताःhonoured/worshipped

यस्यof whom/whose

सःhe

वैindeed

लोकविद्knower of the world/people

उच्यतेis said/called

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Ṛ

ṛtvij (officiating priests)

purohita (royal chaplain)

ācārya (teachers)

śruta-sattamāḥ (eminent learned persons)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.