Shloka 8
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
स चेत् समनुपश्येत समग्रं कुशलं भवेत् | बलवान हि प्रकुपित: कुर्यान्निःशेषतामपि
sa cet samanupaśyet samagraṁ kuśalaṁ bhavet | balavān hi prakupitaḥ kuryān niḥśeṣatām api ||
Bhishma dit : «Si un souverain si puissant considérait les choses avec calme et discernement d’ensemble, le bien du royaume en serait accompli. Mais si ce même roi, si fort, est poussé à la colère, il peut mener l’État tout entier à la ruine.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s strength must be governed by calm, comprehensive judgment; when power is guided by restraint it produces complete welfare, but when driven by anger it can destroy an entire polity.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship (rājadharma), Bhishma warns about the double-edged nature of royal power: the same capable king can secure the realm’s prosperity through composed oversight, or devastate it if he becomes enraged.