Shloka 6
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
अथ चेदाभिवर्तेत राज्यार्थी बलवत्तर: । अराजकाणि राष्ट्राणि हतवीर्याणि वा पुन:
atha ced ābhivarteta rājārthī balavattaraḥ | arājakāṇi rāṣṭrāṇi hatavīryāṇi vā punaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Si un prétendant au trône, plus puissant, poussé par le désir d’un royaume, marche contre des territoires sans souverain —ou contre ceux dont la force a été brisée—, alors leurs habitants doivent aller au-devant de lui et l’accueillir avec les honneurs et la considération qui conviennent. C’est pour eux le conseil le plus sûr, car nul mal n’est plus grand que l’état pécheur de l’anarchie.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that for a rulerless or militarily broken land, accepting a stronger would-be ruler can be the least harmful option, because prolonged anarchy is portrayed as a grave moral and social evil.
In the Śānti Parva’s discourse on kingship and governance, Bhīṣma advises what subjects should do if a powerful aspirant to rule moves against a kingless or weakened territory: they should meet him and offer formal reception, prioritizing restoration of order over the chaos of lawlessness.