Shloka 15
मरुत्तोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः — Genealogy to Marutta and the Logistics of Royal Sacrifice
यदा तु परमामार्ति गतो5सौ सपुरो नृपः । ततः प्रदध्मौ स कर प्रादुरासीत् ततो बलम्
yadā tu paramām ārtiṃ gato 'sau sapuro nṛpaḥ | tataḥ pradadhmau sa karaṃ prādurāsīt tato balam ||
व्यास उवाच— यदा स नृपः सपुरः परमामार्तिं गतः, तदा करं मुखे निधाय शङ्खमिव प्रदध्मौ; ततस्ततो महद् बलं प्रादुरभवत्॥
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s foremost duty is the protection of the people; when collective danger arises, decisive action to secure defense is portrayed as urgent and legitimate. The verse also frames power (bala) as something that can be summoned or mobilized in response to dharmic responsibility toward one’s subjects.
The king and his city are overwhelmed by severe calamity. In that moment he blows upon his hand like a conch-blast, and immediately a large army/force appears—suggesting a sudden, extraordinary means of calling forth military support.