Shloka 73
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
मनु: प्रजानां रक्षार्थ क्षुपाय प्रददावसिम् | क्षुपाज्जग्राह चेक्ष्वाकुरिक्ष्वाकोश्व पुरूरवा:
manuḥ prajānāṃ rakṣārthaṃ kṣupāya pradadāv asim | kṣupāj jagrāha cekṣvākur ikṣvākoś ca purūravāḥ ||
Bhishma said: For the protection of living beings, Manu bestowed the sword upon Kṣupa. From Kṣupa it was received by Ikṣvāku, and from Ikṣvāku by Purūravas. The meaning is that when people transgress dharma, the ruler must, in due measure, employ punishments validated by the sword—coercive authority—to safeguard dharma and social order; thus the instrument of royal discipline is transmitted through the line of kings.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is preserved not only by moral instruction but also by measured royal enforcement (daṇḍa). When dharma is violated, the ruler must apply proportionate punishment to protect society and uphold order.
Bhishma recounts a lineage-story of royal authority: Manu hands over the sword (symbol of punitive power) to Kṣupa; it then passes to Ikṣvāku and onward to Purūravas, illustrating the inherited duty of kings to protect subjects through just discipline.