Shloka 12
Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order
Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue
बभूव राजा राजेन्द्र मान्धाता नाम वीर्यवान् | पुरा वसुमतीपालो यज्ञ चक्रे दिदृक्षया
babhūva rājā rājendra māndhātā nāma vīryavān | purā vasumatīpālo yajñaṃ cakre didṛkṣayā ||
भीष्म बोले—राजाओं में श्रेष्ठ! प्राचीन काल में मान्धाता नाम का एक पराक्रमी राजा हुआ, जो पृथ्वी का पालक था। उसने दर्शन-लालसा से प्रेरित होकर एक यज्ञ का अनुष्ठान किया।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse introduces an exemplary ancient king and frames yajña as a dharmic act of rulership: a righteous protector of the earth seeks higher vision/confirmation of sacred order through sacrifice, implying that political power is meant to be aligned with ritual duty and moral purpose.
Bhīṣma begins a traditional illustrative episode (itihāsa) for the king he is instructing, stating that in ancient times the powerful king Māndhātṛ, ruler of the earth, performed a yajña motivated by a desire to behold something auspicious/divine, setting up the lesson that follows.