Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

गोप्ता तस्माद्‌ दुराधर्ष: स्मितपूर्वांभिभाषिता । आभाषिततश्च मधुरं प्रत्याभाषेत मानवान्‌

Transliteration

goptā tasmād durādharṣaḥ smitapūrvam abhibhāṣitā | ābhāṣitaś ca madhuraṁ pratyābhāṣeta mānavān |

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : « Ainsi, soutenu par le peuple, le roi devient un protecteur inébranlable—difficile à atteindre et pleinement capable de garder ses sujets. Qu’il s’adresse aux autres en commençant par un sourire ; et lorsque les gens lui parlent ou l’interrogent, qu’il leur réponde d’une parole douce et courtoise. Ainsi, la conduite bienveillante et les mots agréables deviennent des instruments de la royauté et du bien commun. »

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'goptā', 'definition': 'protector, guardian (especially the king as protector of subjects)'}, {'term': 'tasmāt', 'definition': 'therefore, for that reason'}, {'term': 'durādharṣaḥ', 'definition': 'hard to assail, formidable, not easily overcome'}, {'term': 'smita-pūrvam', 'definition': 'preceded by a smile

• with a smile first'}, {'term': 'abhibhāṣitā (abhibhāṣeta)', 'definition': 'should address, should speak to (politely/appropriately)'}, {'term': 'ābhāṣitaḥ', 'definition': 'having been spoken to

• when addressed'}, {'term': 'madhuram', 'definition': 'sweetly, pleasantly, kindly'}, {'term': 'pratyābhāṣeta', 'definition': 'should reply, should respond in return'}, {'term': 'mānavān', 'definition': 'people, men

• here: the subjects/citizens'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• subjects/people (mānavāḥ/prajā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s strength is not only military or administrative; it is also relational. With the support of the people he becomes secure and effective as a protector, and he should cultivate goodwill by greeting with a smile and replying in gentle, sweet speech. Courteous communication is presented as a practical element of rajadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising the ruler on how to deal with subjects. Here he emphasizes that public support makes the king formidable and capable, and he prescribes a concrete behavioral norm: smiling address and sweet replies to the people.