Shloka 10
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
ते खल्वपि कृतास्त्राश्न बलवन्तश्न भूमिया: । आगम्य पर्युपासन्ते मामीशं सुखदुःखयो:
te khalv api kṛtāstrāś ca balavantaś ca bhūmipāḥ | āgamya paryupāsante mām īśaṁ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ ||
वे भूपाल भी अस्त्रविद्या में निपुण और बलवान थे; वे मुझे सुख-दुःख का अधीश्वर मानकर मेरे पास आते और श्रद्धापूर्वक मेरी उपासना करते थे।
धनद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Worldly power—martial skill and royal strength—does not remove dependence on a higher order; even mighty kings seek refuge in a perceived controller of pleasure and pain, highlighting humility and the limits of human agency.
Dhanada (Kubera) describes how powerful, weapon-trained kings would approach him and worship him, treating him as a divine authority capable of granting happiness or causing suffering.