Shloka 11
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
एतयोपमया वीर संनमेत बलीयसे । इन्द्राय स प्रणमते नमते यो बलीयसे,वीर! इस उपमाको ध्यानमें रखते हुए दुर्बलको बलवानके सामने नतमस्तक हो जाना चाहिये। जो बलवानको प्रणाम करता है, वह मानो इन्द्रको ही नमस्कार करता है
etayopamayā vīra saṃnameta balīyase | indrāya sa praṇamate namate yo balīyase ||
ビーシュマは言った。「勇士よ、この譬えを心に留め、弱き者は強き者の前に頭を垂れるべきである。強者に敬意を捧げる者は、いわばインドラその人に礼拝するのと同じなのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches pragmatic and ethical humility: recognizing superior strength or authority and offering respectful submission, framed as reverence to the principle of sovereignty symbolized by Indra.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs the listener on norms of conduct and statecraft; here he uses an analogy to advise that the weaker should respectfully bow to the stronger, equating such reverence with honoring Indra.