In a country destitute of a king, there can be no sacrifice.  The gods and the Pitris subsist on the offerings made in sacrifices.  Sacrifice, however, depends upon the king.  In the season of summer, men desire comfort from the shade of trees, cool water, and cool breezes.  In the season of winter they derive comfort from fire, warm clothes, and the sun.  The heart of man may find pleasure in sound, touch, taste, vision, and scent.  The man, however, who is inspired with fear, finds no pleasure in all these things.  That person who dispels the fears of men obtains great merit.  There is no gift so valuable in the three worlds as the gift of life.  The king is Indra.  The king is Yama.  The king is Dharma.  The king assumes different forms.  The king sustains and supports everything.’”

SECTION LXXIII

“Bhishma said, ’The king, with an eye to both religious merit and profit whose considerations are often very intricate, should, without delay, appoint a priest possessed of learning and intimate acquaintance with the Vedas and the (other) scriptures.  Those kings that have priests possessed of virtuous souls and conversant with policy, and that are themselves possessed of such attributes, enjoy prosperity in every direction.  Both the priest and the king should have such qualities as are worthy of regard and should be observant of vows and penances.  They would then succeed in supporting and aggrandising the subjects and the deities, the Pitris and the children.[231] It is laid down that they should be possessed of similar hearts and should be each other’s friends.  In consequence of such friendship between Brahmana and Kshatriya, the subjects become happy.  If they do not regard each other, destruction would overtake the people.  The Brahmana and the Kshatriya are said to be the progenitors of all men.  In this connection is cited the old story about the discourse between Aila’s son and Kasyapa.  Listen to it, O Yudhishthira.’

“Aila said, ’When the Brahmana forsakes the Kshatriya or the Kshatriya forsakes the Brahmana, who amongst them should be regarded superior and upon whom do the other orders rely and maintain themselves?’

“Kasyapa said, ’Ruin overtakes the kingdom of the Kshatriya when the Brahmana and Kshatriya contend with each other.  Robbers infest that kingdom in which confusion prevails, and all good men regard the ruler to be a Mlechcha.  Their oxen do not thrive, nor their children.  Their pots (of milk) are not churned, and no sacrifices are performed there.  The children do not study the Vedas in kingdoms where Brahmanas abandon Kshatriyas.  In their houses wealth does not increase.  Their children do not become good and do not study the scriptures and perform sacrifices.  Those Kshatriyas that abandon Brahmanas become impure in blood and assume the nature of robbers.  The Brahmana and the Kshatriya are connected with each other naturally, and each protects the other.