Shloka 1
Purohita-Niyoga and the Brahma–Kṣatra Concord
Aila–Kaśyapa Saṃvāda
/ हि ही बक। हि मा मी - यस्या ग्रियते कन्याया वाचा सत्ये कृते पति: | तामनेन विधानेन निजो विन्देत देवर: ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | rājñā purohitaḥ kāryo bhaved vidvān bahuśrutaḥ | ubhau samīkṣya dharmārthāv aprameyāv anantaram ||
भीष्म उवाच—राजन्, धर्मार्थयोर्गतिरत्यन्तं सूक्ष्मा दुरवगाहा च; तस्मात् तयोः सम्यग् निरीक्ष्याविलम्बेन बहुश्रुतं विद्वांसं ब्राह्मणं पुरोहितत्वे नियुञ्जीत।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king should promptly appoint a learned and well-versed purohita, because discerning and balancing dharma (righteous duty/order) and artha (practical welfare/policy) is subtle and difficult; wise counsel safeguards both.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on governance, Bhishma begins advising the king on the necessity of a competent royal priest—someone learned and experienced—so that royal decisions align with both ethical duty and effective statecraft.