Shloka 15
Baka Dālbhya at Avakīrṇa-tīrtha: Rāṣṭra-kṣaya and Release through Prasāda (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 40)
एवमुक्त: प्रत्युवाच ततो गाधि: प्रजास्तत: । विश्वस्य जगतो गोप्ता भविष्यति सुतो मम,उनके ऐसा कहनेपर गाधिने सम्पूर्ण प्रजाओंसे कहा--'मैरा पुत्र सम्पूर्ण जगत्की रक्षा करनेवाला होगा (अतः तुम्हें भयभीत नहीं होना चाहिये)”
evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca tato gādhiḥ prajāḥ tataḥ | viśvasya jagato goptā bhaviṣyati suto mama ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: When they had spoken thus, Gādhi replied to all the people: “My son will become the protector of the entire world; therefore you should not be afraid.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s foremost dharma is protection: leadership is justified by safeguarding the people and maintaining confidence in social order. Gādhi’s assurance frames his son’s future role as guardianship rather than mere power.
After being addressed by the people, Gādhi responds publicly, calming their fear by declaring that his son will become the guardian of the whole world, and therefore they need not be alarmed.