Shloka 15

Devanagari script

यथा मनुर्महातेजा लोकानां परिरक्षिता । एवमेष महातेजा: प्रजानुग्रहकारक:,जैसे महातेजस्वी मनु समस्त लोकोंके रक्षक हैं उसी प्रकार ये महातेजस्वी नरेश भी प्रजाजनोंपर अनुग्रह करनेवाले हैं

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | yathā manur mahātejā lokānāṃ parirakṣitā | evam eṣa mahātejāḥ prajānugrahakārakaḥ ||

Translation

அர்ஜுனன் கூறினான்—மகாதேஜஸ்வி மனு எல்லா மக்களையும் காக்கும் பாதுகாவலன் போல, இந்த மகாதேஜஸ்வி அரசனும் தன் குடிமக்கள்மேல் அருளும் ஆதரவும் செய்பவன்.

Word by Word

यथाjust as

मनुःManu

महातेजाःof great splendor

लोकानाम्of the worlds/people

परिरक्षिताprotector/guardian

एवम्thus/in the same way

एषःthis (man/king)

महातेजाःof great splendor

प्रजानुग्रहकारकःone who bestows favor on the subjects

Speaker

अर्जुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Manu

the king (eṣaḥ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A ruler’s dharma is to protect and actively promote the welfare of the people; true royal ‘tejas’ is expressed as guardianship and compassionate governance, exemplified by Manu.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna praises a present king by comparing him to Manu, presenting him as a powerful protector and benefactor of his subjects, thereby affirming his legitimacy and righteous character.