Shloka 19
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
तस्माद् राज्ञ: सदा तेजो दुःसहं ब्रह्म॒वादिनाम् । कर्ता शास्ता विधाता च ब्राह्मणो देव उच्यते,अतः ब्रह्मवादियोंका तेज राजाके लिये सदा दुःसह है। ब्राह्मण इस जगत्का कर्ता, शासक, धारण-पोषण करनेवाला और देवता कहलाता है
tasmād rājñaḥ sadā tejo duḥsahaṃ brahmavādinām | kartā śāstā vidhātā ca brāhmaṇo deva ucyate ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kaya nga, para sa isang hari, ang espirituwal na ningning at kapangyarihan ng mga nagsasalita at nagtataguyod ng Brahman ay laging mahirap salungatin. Ang Brāhmaṇa ay tinatawag na ‘deva’—ang itinuturing na lumikha, tagapagparusa at tagapamahala, at siyang nagtatatag at nagpapanatili ng kaayusan ng daigdig.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts that a king should recognize the superior spiritual authority (tejas) of Veda-upholding Brāhmaṇas; their role is portrayed as foundational to cosmic and social order—creating, regulating, and sustaining dharma—hence they are termed ‘deva’ in a normative, honorific sense.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhīṣma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira about the principles of righteous rule, emphasizing the king’s relationship to Brāhmaṇas and the need to respect their moral-spiritual power and counsel.