Shloka 128
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
तपसा भगवान् विष्णुराविवेश च भूमिपम् । देववन्नरदेवानां नमते यं जगन्नूपम्
tapasā bhagavān viṣṇur āviveśa ca bhūmipam | devavan naradevāṇāṁ namate yaṁ jagannṛpam | rājā pṛthukī tapasyāse prasanno ho bhagavān viṣṇunā svayam
तपस्येच्या सामर्थ्याने भगवान विष्णू स्वतः त्या भूमिपतीमध्ये प्रविष्ट झाले. नरदेवसम राजांमध्ये तो असा नरेश होता की ज्याच्यासमोर समस्त जग देवाप्रमाणे मस्तक झुकवीत असे. अशा रीतीने तपश्चर्येत दृढ असलेल्या राजा पृथुकीला स्वयं भगवान विष्णूची प्रत्यक्ष कृपा प्राप्त झाली.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s true authority is grounded in dharma and self-discipline: sustained tapas can purify and empower a king so that divine grace supports his rule, making him worthy of universal respect.
Bhishma describes a king (Prithuki) whose austerities pleased Vishnu; as a sign of favor, Vishnu is said to ‘enter’ the king, and the world reveres him like a deity among rulers.