Yudhishthira Said Which act, O grandfather is the foremost of all those that have been laid down for a king? What is that act by doing which a king succeeds in enjoying both this world and the next.

Bhishma said Even this, viz., the worship of the Brahmanas, is the foremost of all those deeds, O Bharata, which have been laid down for a king duly installed on the throne if, indeed, he is desirous of acquiring great happiness.

Even this is what the foremost of all kings should do. Know this well, O chief of Bharata's race. The king should always adore with reverence all righteous Brahmanas possessed of Vedic learning.

The king should, with bows sweet speeches and gifts of all articles of enjoyment, adore all Brahmanas endued with great learning who may live in his city or provinces.

This is the foremost of all acts laid down for the king. Indeed, the king should always keep his eyes fixed on this. He should protect and cherish these, even as he protects his own self or his own children.

The king should adore with greater reverence those amongst the Brahmanas who may be worthy of it. When such men are freed from all anxiety, the whole kingdom shines in beauty.

Such individuals are worthy of adoration. The king should bow his head to such individuals. Indeed, they should be honoured, even as one honours his father and grandfather. The course of conduct followed by men, depends upon them as the existence of all creatures depends upon Vasava.

Having prowess incapable of being baffled and gifted with great energy, such men if enraged are capable of reducing the entire kingdom to ashes by only their will or by acts of incantation, or by other means.

I do not see anything that can destroy them. Their power seems to be uncontrolled, being capable of reaching to the last end of the universe. When angry, their looks fall upon men and things like a burning flame of fire upon a forest. are

The most courageous men are struck with fear at their name. Their virtues and powers are extraordinary and immeasurable. Some amongst them are like wells and pits with mouths covered by grass and creepers, while others resemble the sky shorn of clouds and darkness.

Some amongst them of dreadful dispositions. Some are as mild and soft in disposition as cotton. Some amongst them are very cunning. Some amongst them are given to the practice of penances.

Some amongst them are employed in agricultural pursuits. Some amongst them are engaged in the keep of kine. Some amongst them live upon eleemosynary alms. Some amongst them are even thieves. Some amongst them are found of creating quarrels and disputes. Some again, amongst them are actors and dancers.

Some amongst them are competent to perform all feats ordinary and extraordinary. The Brahmanas, O chief of Bharata's race, are of various aspects and conduct.

One should always sing the praises of the Brahmanas who are conversant with all duties, who are righteous of conduct, who are given to various kinds of acts, and who are seen to derive their sustenance from various callings.

The Brahmanas, O king, who are highly blessed are older in respect of their origin than the departed manes, the deities human beings, the Snakes, and the Rakshasas.

These twice born persons are incapable of being defeated by the deities or the departed manes, or the Gandharvas or the Rakshasas, or the Asuras or the Pishachas.

The Brahmanas are competent to make him a god, that is not a god. They can, again, divest one who is a deity of his status as such. He becomes a king, whom they wish to make a king. He on the other hand, is crushed whom they do not love or like.

I tell you truly, O king, that those foolish persons, forsooth, meet with destruction who caluminate the Brahmanas and utter their dispraise.

Expert in praise and dispraise, and themselves the origin or cause of other people's fame and ignominy, the Brahmanas, O king, always become angry with those who seek to injure others.

That man whom the Brahmanas praise succeeds in becoming prosperous. That man who is censured and renounced by the Brahmanas soon meets with discomfiture.

It is on account of the absence of Brahmanas from among them that the Shakas, the Yavanas, the Kamvojas and other Kshatriya tribes have become fallen and degraded into Shudras.

The Dravidas, the Kalingas, the Pulindas the Ushinaras, the Kolisarpas, the Mahishakas, and other Kshatriyas, have, on account of the absence of Brahmanas from among their midst, become degraded into Shudras. Defeat from them is preferable to victory, O foremost of victorious persons.

One killing all other living creatures in this world does not commit a sin so heinous as that of killing a single Brahmana. The great Rishis have said that Brahmanicide is a heinous sin.

One should never utter the dispraise or calumny of the Brahmanas. Where the dispraise of Brahmanas is uttered, one should sit with face hanging down or leave that place.

That man has not as yet been born in this world or will not take birth here who has been or will be able to pass his life happily after quarrelling with the Brahmanas.

One cannot seize the wind with his hands. One cannot touch the moon with his hand. One cannot support the earth on his arms. Similarly, O king, one is not able to defeat the Brahmanas in this world,