Shloka 38
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
प्रीताश्न॒ देवता नित्यमिन्द्रे परिवदन्त्यपि । अन्न ददाति शक्रश्नाप्यनुगृह्नन्निमा: प्रजा:
prītāśnā devatā nityam indre parivadanty api | annaṃ dadāti śakraś cāpy anugṛhṇann imāḥ prajāḥ ||
Disse Bhīṣma: “Quando os deuses são satisfeitos pelas oferendas de alimento, eles continuamente falam em favor de Indra (intercedendo pelo mundo). Então Śakra (Indra), mostrando graça a estes súditos, concede-lhes alimento—por meio de chuvas oportunas e da colheita que delas resulta. Assim, o bem-estar dos seres repousa no alimento, e o dever do rei é sustentar a ordem que o assegura.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Social welfare depends on a dharmic cycle: offerings and righteous conduct sustain the gods; the pleased gods support Indra; Indra sends rain and prosperity; food sustains all beings. Therefore governance must protect this order and ensure conditions for sustenance.
In the Śānti Parva discourse on rājadharma, Bhīṣma explains to Yudhiṣṭhira how prosperity arises: satisfied deities intercede with Indra, and Indra, favouring the people, provides food (implicitly through timely rains and harvests).