Shloka 13
Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order
Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue
स राजा राजशार्दूल मान्धाता परमेश्वरम्
sa rājā rājaśārdūla māndhātā parameśvaram | rājasimha! rājā māndhātānena yajñe paramātmā bhagavān viṣṇoḥ caraṇayoḥ bhāvanayā pṛthivyāṃ mastakaṃ nidhāya taṃ praṇamya | tadā śrīharir devarāja indrasya rūpaṃ dhṛtvā tasmai darśanaṃ dadau |
Bhishma said: O tiger among kings, O lion among rulers! King Māndhātā, in that sacrifice, fixed his mind in reverent contemplation on the feet of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu. Bowing low, he placed his head upon the earth and offered obeisance. At that moment Śrī Hari, assuming the form of Indra, the king of the gods, granted him a divine vision. The passage highlights that true royal greatness is perfected by humility and devotion, and that sincere worship draws the Lord’s grace in a form suited to the devotee’s context.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a powerful ruler perfects dharma through humility and single-minded devotion; sincere reverence to the Lord’s feet invites divine grace, which may appear in an appropriate, contextual form.
During a sacrifice, King Māndhātā bows with his head on the ground, meditating on Viṣṇu’s feet; in response, Śrī Hari manifests in the form of Indra and grants him a divine vision.