Shloka 12
Brāhmaṇa-bheda-nirṇaya and Rājā’s Regulatory Duties (ब्राह्मणभेदनिर्णयः)
यस्य सम विषये राजन् स्तेनो भवति वै द्विज: । राज्ञ एवापराध॑ त॑ मन्यन्ते तद्धिदो जना:
yasya sama-viṣaye rājan steno bhavati vai dvijaḥ | rājña evāparādhaṃ taṃ manyante tadvido janāḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“大王啊！若在君主自己的国土之内，竟有婆罗门沦为盗贼，通晓治国之理者便断言此乃国王之过。道义的重担落在主宰者肩上：当社会秩序崩坏，乃至有学之士也转而为恶，这正显出护民不周、司法不明与不依达摩而治的失职。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler is morally accountable for the condition of society within his jurisdiction. If even a brahmin—ideally devoted to learning and restraint—turns to theft, it indicates a breakdown of protection, justice, and welfare, for which the king bears primary blame.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhishma advises the king (Yudhishthira) about the standards of righteous governance. He emphasizes that public disorder and criminality, especially among the traditionally virtuous classes, reflect the king’s failure in administration.