Shloka 16
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
दिवोदासस्तु विज्ञाय वीर्य तेषां यतात्मनाम् । वाराणसीं महातेजा निर्ममे शक्रशासनात्,दिवोदास बड़े तेजस्वी राजा थे। उन्होंने जब मनको वशमें रखनेवाले हैहयराजकुमारोंके पराक्रमपर विचार किया तब इन्द्रकी आज्ञासे वाराणसी नामवाली नगरी बसायी
divodāsas tu vijñāya vīrya teṣāṃ yatātmanām | vārāṇasīṃ mahātejā nirmame śakraśāsanāt ||
بھیشم نے کہا—عظیم جلال والے راجا دیووداس نے اُن خود ضبط رکھنے والے ہَیہَی شہزادوں کی قوت کو سمجھ کر، شکر (اندَر) کے حکم سے وارाणسی نامی نگری بسائی۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler should assess realities—such as the strength and discipline of rivals—and act with foresight; at the same time, legitimate rule is portrayed as aligned with a higher order (here, Indra’s command), suggesting that political action gains ethical weight when guided by discernment and sanctioned authority.
Bhīṣma narrates that King Divodāsa, recognizing the prowess of the self-controlled Haihaya princes, established the city of Vārāṇasī, doing so in accordance with Śakra (Indra)’s directive.