Shloka 34
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
नमस्येरंश्व॒ तं भक्त्या शिष्या इव गुरुं सदा । देवा इव च देवेन्द्रं तत्र राजानमन्तिके,फिर जैसे शिष्य भक्तिभावसे गुरुको नमस्कार करते हैं तथा जैसे देवता देवराज इन्द्रको प्रणाम करते हैं, उसी प्रकार समस्त प्रजाजनोंको अपने राजाके निकट नमस्कार करना चाहिये
namasyeraṁś ca taṁ bhaktyā śiṣyā iva guruṁ sadā | devā iva ca devendraṁ tatra rājānam antike ||
Bhishma said: “Let them always bow to that king with devotion, just as disciples respectfully bow to their teacher, and just as the gods pay homage to Indra, the lord of the gods. In the same way, the people should offer reverent salutations when they are in the presence of their king.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that public order and righteous governance are supported when subjects approach the king with reverence and disciplined respect—modeled on the devotion of a disciple to a guru and the gods’ homage to Indra.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about proper conduct between subjects and the ruler, emphasizing respectful salutation and deference in the king’s presence.