Shloka 676
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
मनवे सूर्यपुत्राय ददु: खड्गं सुविस्तरम् । बेटा! फिर महेन्द्रने लोकपालोंको और लोकपालोंने सूर्य-पुत्र मननुको वह विशाल खड्ग दे दिया
manave sūryaputrāya daduḥ khaḍgaṃ suvistaram |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Kepada Manu, putera Surya (Dewa Matahari), mereka menganugerahkan sebilah pedang yang lebar lagi perkasa.” Dalam aliran kisah, senjata itu tampil sebagai alat yang diturunkan secara ilahi bagi pemerintahan yang berlandaskan dharma—melambangkan bahawa pemeliharaan tertib (dharma) diamanahkan kepada raja yang layak melalui perkenan kuasa yang lebih tinggi, bukan semata-mata kekuatan peribadi.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate power is not mere violence; the sword signifies entrusted responsibility. A ruler is authorized to protect dharma only when authority is received through rightful lineage and higher moral sanction, and is used for safeguarding society.
Bhishma recounts a transmission of a great sword to Manu, the Sun’s son. The episode frames the weapon as a divinely conferred tool of governance, indicating how protective power is handed down to uphold order.