Shloka 69
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
असिना धर्मगर्भेण पालयस्व प्रजा इति । तलवार देकर उन्होंने मनुसे कहा--“तुम मनुष्योंके शासक हो; अतः इस धर्मगर्भित खड्गसे प्रजाका पालन करो || ६८ $ || धर्मसेतुमतिक्रान्ता: स्थूलसूक्ष्मात्मकारणात्
asina dharmagarbheṇa pālayasva prajā iti |
Bhishma said: “With this sword, pregnant with dharma, protect the people.” Thus, having handed over the blade, they instructed Manu that a ruler’s authority is not for personal will but for the just safeguarding of subjects. Those who overstep the boundary of dharma for the sake of gratifying the gross body or the subtle self are to be restrained by appropriate, differentiated punishment; protection of all must be according to dharma, without arbitrariness or favoritism.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Royal power (symbolized by the sword) is legitimate only when it is ‘dharma-garbha’—used to protect subjects and uphold moral order. Punishment must be just, proportionate, and free from personal whim.
Bhishma recounts a traditional instruction given to Manu: he is entrusted with a sword and commanded to rule by dharma, protecting the people and restraining transgressors through appropriate penalties.