Shloka 15

Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order

Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue

Devanagari script

स पार्थिवैर्वत: सद्धिरर्चयामास त॑ प्रभुम्‌ तस्य पार्थिवसिंहस्य तस्य चैव महात्मन: । संवादो<यं महानासीदू विष्णु प्रति महाद्युतिम्‌

Transliteration

sa pārthivair vṛtaḥ sādubhir arcayāmāsa taṁ prabhum | tasya pārthivasiṁhasya tasya caiva mahātmanaḥ | saṁvādo ’yaṁ mahān āsīd viṣṇu-prati mahādyutim ||

Translation

Surrounded by virtuous kings, that ruler (Māndhātṛ) worshipped the Lord who appeared in the form of Indra. Thereafter, between that lion among kings and that great-souled Indra, a great dialogue took place concerning the highly radiant Lord Viṣṇu—setting the ethical frame that true sovereignty is grounded in reverence for the divine and in inquiry into dharma.

Word by Word

• {'pārthivaiḥ': 'by kings, earthly rulers', 'vṛtaḥ': 'surrounded, encompassed', 'sādubhiḥ': 'by the good/virtuous, righteous persons', 'arcayāmāsa': 'worshipped, honored with ritual reverence', 'prabhum': 'the Lord, sovereign master', 'pārthiva-siṁhaḥ': 'lion among kings

• an epithet for an eminent ruler', 'mahātmā': 'great-souled, noble-minded person', 'saṁvādaḥ': 'dialogue, doctrinal conversation', 'mahān': 'great, significant', 'āsīt': 'was, took place', 'viṣṇu-prati': 'concerning Viṣṇu

• with reference to Viṣṇu', 'mahādyuti': 'of great radiance/splendor

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Māndhātṛ
• Indra (in the form of the Lord)
• Viṣṇu
• virtuous kings (pārthivāḥ/sādavaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ideal kingship as rooted in reverence (arcana) and in serious inquiry: a righteous ruler honors the divine and seeks understanding of Viṣṇu, implying that political power should be guided by dharma and devotion rather than mere force.

What is happening in the narrative?

Māndhātṛ, attended by virtuous kings, worships the Lord appearing as Indra; then a major dialogue begins between Māndhātṛ and Indra, focused on the nature and glory of Viṣṇu.