Shloka 26
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
राजोवाच भगवन् वैतहत्यैमें युद्धे वंश: प्रणाशित: । अहमेकः: परिद्यूनो भवन्तं शरणं गत:
rājovāca bhagavan vaitahavyaiḥ ime yuddhe vaṁśaḥ praṇāśitaḥ | aham ekaḥ paridyūno bhavantaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ ||
राजोवाच भगवन् वैतहव्यैर्मे युद्धे वंशः प्रणाशितः । अहमेकः परिद्यूनो भवन्तं शरणं गतः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a dharmic moment: after catastrophic loss in war, the proper response is humility and seeking guidance from a worthy authority. It highlights the ethical turn from vengeance or despair toward śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in wisdom and dharma for restoration of right conduct.
A king, whose dynasty has been wiped out in battle by Vītahavya’s descendants, approaches a revered figure (addressed as bhagavan) in deep sorrow, declaring himself the lone survivor and asking for protection and counsel.