Shloka 29

राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order

Devanagari script

विजयाय हि निर्याहि प्रतपन्‌ रश्मिवानिव । मानं विधम शत्रूणां जयो<स्तु तव सर्वदा,“महाराज! आप तपते हुए अंशुमाली सूर्यके समान विजयके लिये यात्रा कीजिये, शत्रुओंका घमंड धूलमें मिला दीजिये और सर्वदा आपकी जय हो”

Transliteration

vijayāya hi niryāhi pratapan raśmivān iva | mānaṃ vidhama śatrūṇāṃ jayo 'stu tava sarvadā ||

Translation

Bhishma said: “Set forth for victory—like the blazing, radiant sun. Crush the enemies’ pride into dust, O king, and may triumph be yours at all times.”

Word by Word

विजयायfor victory

हिindeed

निर्याहिgo forth / set out

प्रतपन्shining, blazing

रश्मिवान्possessed of rays

इवlike, as

मानम्pride

विधमscatter, crush, destroy

शत्रूणाम्of the enemies

जयःvictory

अस्तुmay it be

तवof you / your

सर्वदाalways

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

Mahārāja (the king addressed)

Sun (Sūrya/Āditya, implied by raśmivān and pratapan)

Enemies (śatravaḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma urges the ruler to act with decisive, radiant strength in pursuit of rightful victory, emphasizing the kshatriya duty to confront adversaries and to break the arrogance that fuels injustice, while invoking a blessing for enduring success.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhishma’s instruction to the king during the Shanti Parva discourse, he delivers an exhortation and benediction: the king should march forth for victory like the blazing sun, subdue hostile forces by shattering their pride, and secure continual triumph.