Shloka 21
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
एवं यो धर्मविद् राजा ब्रद्मपूर्व प्रवर्तते । जयत्यविजितामुर्वी यशश्न महदश्लुते
evaṁ yo dharmavid rājā brahma-pūrvaṁ pravartate | jayaty avijitām urvīṁ yaśaś ca mahad aśnute ||
毗湿摩说：凡通达法（dharma）之王，治国之事必先以婆罗门（婆罗门阶层与神圣劝诫）为先，求其指引与扶助；如此，纵使未曾被征服之大地亦可得胜，并获得盛大名声。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s power should be grounded in dharma: governance ought to begin with brahma—sacred learning, ethical counsel, and the guidance of the wise. When a king acts with such prior orientation, his victories are legitimate and his fame becomes enduring.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about the foundations of successful rule. Here he states that a dharma-knowing king who first relies on Brahmin guidance and then undertakes statecraft gains conquest and great renown.