Shloka 12
Rājā–Rāja-Śabda-Prabhavaḥ — The Origin and Rationale of Kingship and Daṇḍanīti
नैतत् कारणमल्पं हि भविष्यति विशाम्पते । यदेकस्मिन् जगत् सर्व देववद् याति संनतिम्,प्रजानाथ! यह सारा जगत् जो एक ही व्यक्तिको देवताके समान मानकर उसके सामने नतमस्तक हो जाता है, इसका कोई स्वल्प कारण नहीं हो सकता
naitat kāraṇam alpaṁ hi bhaviṣyati viśāmpate | yad ekasmin jagat sarvaṁ devavad yāti saṁnatim prajānātha ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “O panginoon ng mga tao, hindi ito maaaring may munting dahilan lamang. Na ang buong daigdig, nakatuon sa iisang tao, ay yumuyuko sa kanya na wari’y sa isang diyos—ang ganitong pangkalahatang paggalang ay dapat magmula sa mabigat na sanhi.”
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Widespread public reverence is not accidental or minor; it implies a substantial cause—typically perceived virtue, power, protection, or dharmic authority—so one should examine the grounds of legitimacy and moral stature behind such honor.
In the Śānti Parva’s reflective dialogue on governance and dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a ruler-like figure with honorifics, arguing that when the whole world bows to one person as to a god, there must be a serious underlying reason, prompting inquiry into that person’s qualities and the basis of their eminence.