Shloka 67
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
महेन्द्रो लोकपालेभ्यो लोकपालास्तु पुत्रक
mahendro lokapālebhyo lokapālāstu putraka
Bhīṣma said: “Mahendra (Indra) is superior to the Lokapālas; and the Lokapālas, my son, (stand in their own rank beneath him).” In ethical context, the line underscores a graded cosmic order in which authority and responsibility are distributed hierarchically, with Indra as chief among the guardians of the world.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse points to a structured hierarchy in the cosmos: Indra (Mahendra) is presented as chief, with the Lokapālas occupying subordinate but important roles. It reflects the dharmic idea that governance—divine or human—functions through ordered ranks and delegated responsibilities.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction, Bhīṣma addresses his listener as “putraka” and makes a concise statement about the relative status of Indra and the Lokapālas, likely as part of a broader explanation of authority, guardianship, and the organization of the world.