Shloka 16
आपद्धर्मे वैश्यवृत्तिः, विक्रय-निषेधाः, तथा ब्रह्म-क्षत्र-सम्बन्धः
Emergency Livelihood, Prohibited Trade, and Brahman–Kshatra Regulation
राज्ञोउपि क्षीयमाणस्य ब्रह्मैवाहु: परायणम् । तस्माद् ब्रह्मबलेनैव समुत्थेयं विजानता
rājño 'pi kṣīyamāṇasya brahmaivāhuḥ parāyaṇam | tasmād brahmabalenaiva samuttheyam vijānatā ||
毗湿摩说道：“即便国王之力日渐衰微，智者亦称‘梵’——婆罗门之所依、圣智之根本——为至高的归依。因此，明达的君主当凭借梵之力而求复兴与进取。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When royal power declines, the king’s best support is not mere force but the moral and spiritual strength of Brahman—Vedic wisdom, dharmic counsel, and the legitimizing authority of learned Brahmins. A wise ruler should rebuild his position by aligning with dharma through such guidance.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira about sustaining and restoring kingship. Here he emphasizes that a weakening king should take refuge in brahma—seeking counsel and support rooted in sacred learning and dharma—to rise again.