Shloka 29
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
मानुषाणामधिपतिं देवभूतं सनातनम् । देवापि नावमन्यन्ते धर्मकामं नरेश्वरम्,राजा मनुष्योंका अधिपति, सनातन देवस्वरूप तथा धर्मकी इच्छा रखनेवाला होता है। देवता भी उसका अपमान नहीं करते हैं
mānuṣāṇām adhipatiṁ devabhūtaṁ sanātanam | devā api nāvamanyante dharmakāmaṁ nareśvaram ||
मानुषाणामधिपतिं देवभूतं सनातनम् । देवा अपि नावमन्यन्ते धर्मकामं नरेश्वरम् ॥
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler who is committed to dharma possesses a sanctified, godlike authority; therefore, even the gods are said to honor him. The verse elevates ethical kingship as a pillar of cosmic and social order.
Indra is describing the stature of a righteous king, emphasizing that the king—when oriented toward dharma—commands reverence not only from people but symbolically even from the gods.