Shloka 10
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
यदतप्तं प्रणमते नैतत् संतापमर्हति । यत् स्वयं नमते दारु न तत् संनामयन्त्यपि,जो राष्ट्र बिना कष्ट पाये ही नतमस्तक हो जाता है, वह अधिक संतापका भागी नहीं होता। जो लकड़ी स्वयं ही झुक जाती है, उसे लोग झुकानेका प्रयत्न नहीं करते हैं
yad-ataptaṁ praṇamate na etat santāpam arhati | yat svayaṁ namate dāru na tat saṁnāmayanty api ||
Bhishma dijo: «Quien se inclina sin haber sido abrasado por la adversidad no merece por ello mayor congoja. Y así como a la madera que se dobla por sí misma no la fuerzan a bajar, del mismo modo a quien adopta voluntariamente la humildad y la sumisión por lo general no se le somete a coerción adicional».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Voluntary humility prevents escalation: one who bows of their own accord, without being compelled by suffering, is less likely to face further harsh treatment—like naturally bending wood that needs no forcing.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma and practical ethics. Here he uses a simple analogy (wood that bends on its own) to advise that willing submission and modesty can avert additional pressure and pain in social and political life.