Shloka 18
Adharmic Victory as Unstable; Rules of Restraint, Mediation, and Conciliation (अधर्मविजय-अध्रुवत्व तथा क्षमा-नयः)
ऋत्विक्पुरोहिताचार्या ये चान्ये श्रुतसत्तमा: । पूजाह[: पूजिता यस्य स वै लोकविदुच्यते
ṛtvik-purohita-ācāryā ye cānye śruta-sattamāḥ | pūjitā yasya sa vai loka-vid ucyate ||
毗湿摩说道：能恭敬供养司祭之祭官（ṛtvij）、王室祭司（purohita）、师长（ācārya）以及其他精通圣典的卓越导师者，方可称为洞悉世间正道之君。此等敬奉，扶持正法之治，因为它尊崇了守护并传承达摩的人。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king becomes truly wise in worldly and moral order (loka-vit) by honouring ritual priests, the royal chaplain, teachers, and other eminent scholars—because supporting custodians of sacred knowledge sustains dharma and stabilizes righteous rule.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on kingship and conduct, Bhīṣma advises Yudhiṣṭhira by defining a mark of an ideal ruler: reverence toward priests, preceptors, and learned authorities who guide ritual, counsel, and ethical governance.