Shloka 15

Devanagari script

यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकानां परिरक्षिता । एवमेष महातेजा: प्रजानुग्रहकारक:,जैसे महातेजस्वी मनु समस्त लोकोंके रक्षक हैं उसी प्रकार ये महातेजस्वी नरेश भी प्रजाजनोंपर अनुग्रह करनेवाले हैं

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | yathā manur mahātejā lokānāṃ parirakṣitā | evam eṣa mahātejāḥ prajānugrahakārakaḥ ||

Translation

قال أرجونا: «كما أن مانو (Manu)، المشرّع العظيم المتلألئ، هو حامي جميع الناس، كذلك هذا الملك العظيم المتلألئ—يُفيض الإحسان ويُظهر العطف العملي على رعيته.»

Word by Word

यथाjust as

मनुःManu

महातेजाःof great splendor

लोकानाम्of the worlds/people

परिरक्षिताprotector/guardian

एवम्thus/in the same way

एषःthis (man/king)

महातेजाःof great splendor

प्रजानुग्रहकारकःone who bestows favor on the subjects

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Manu

the king (eṣaḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is to protect and actively promote the welfare of the people; true royal ‘tejas’ is expressed as guardianship and compassionate governance, exemplified by Manu.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna praises a present king by comparing him to Manu, presenting him as a powerful protector and benefactor of his subjects, thereby affirming his legitimacy and righteous character.