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 |
भीष्म उवाच—मनवे सूर्यपुत्राय ते खड्गं सुविस्तरं प्रददुः। एवं स खड्गो दिव्येनानुशासनेन धर्मरक्षणाय नृपतेः करेषु न्यस्तः, न स्वबलमात्रेण, किन्तु उच्चतरप्रमाणसमन्वितेनाधिकारिणा।
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.