Shloka 206
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
यं पूजयेम सम्भूय यश्न नः प्रतिपालयेत् । (कुछ समयतक इस प्रकार काम चलता रहा; किंतु आगे चलकर पुनः दुर्व्यवस्था फैल गयी) तब दुःखसे पीड़ित हुई सारी प्रजाएँ एक साथ मिलकर ब्रह्माजीके पास गयीं और उनसे कहने लगीं--'भगवन्! राजाके बिना तो हमलोग नष्ट हो रहे हैं। आप हमें कोई ऐसा राजा दीजिये
yaṁ pūjayema sambhūya yaś ca naḥ pratipālayet |
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ— “ଆମକୁ ଏମିତି ଜଣେ ରାଜା ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ, ଯାହାକୁ ଆମେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଏକତ୍ର ହୋଇ ପୂଜିବା, ଏବଂ ସେ ପ୍ରତିଦାନରେ ସଦା ଆମକୁ ରକ୍ଷା ଓ ପାଳନ କରିବେ।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate rulership is defined by reciprocal duty: the people honor the ruler, and the ruler’s primary dharma is continuous protection and maintenance of the subjects. Without such protective governance, society collapses into duḥkha and disorder.
After disorder spreads and the populace suffers, the subjects collectively approach Brahmā and request the appointment of a capable king—someone they can jointly revere and who will reliably safeguard them.