Shloka 38

राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order

Devanagari script

गोप्ता तस्माद्‌ दुराधर्ष: स्मितपूर्वांभिभाषिता । आभाषिततश्च मधुरं प्रत्याभाषेत मानवान्‌

Transliteration

goptā tasmād durādharṣaḥ smitapūrvam abhibhāṣitā | ābhāṣitaś ca madhuraṁ pratyābhāṣeta mānavān |

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Nhờ được dân chúng nâng đỡ, nhà vua trở thành bậc hộ quốc kiên định—khó bị công phá và đủ năng lực che chở thần dân. Vua nên mở lời trước bằng nụ cười; và khi dân chúng thưa hỏi hay bày tỏ điều gì, vua phải đáp lại bằng lời lẽ ngọt ngào, nhã nhặn. Như thế, cử chỉ hiền hòa và lời nói êm dịu trở thành khí cụ của vương đạo và lợi ích chung.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'goptā', 'definition': 'protector, guardian (especially the king as protector of subjects)'}, {'term': 'tasmāt', 'definition': 'therefore, for that reason'}, {'term': 'durādharṣaḥ', 'definition': 'hard to assail, formidable, not easily overcome'}, {'term': 'smita-pūrvam', 'definition': 'preceded by a smile

• with a smile first'}, {'term': 'abhibhāṣitā (abhibhāṣeta)', 'definition': 'should address, should speak to (politely/appropriately)'}, {'term': 'ābhāṣitaḥ', 'definition': 'having been spoken to

• when addressed'}, {'term': 'madhuram', 'definition': 'sweetly, pleasantly, kindly'}, {'term': 'pratyābhāṣeta', 'definition': 'should reply, should respond in return'}, {'term': 'mānavān', 'definition': 'people, men

• here: the subjects/citizens'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā)
• subjects/people (mānavāḥ/prajā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s strength is not only military or administrative; it is also relational. With the support of the people he becomes secure and effective as a protector, and he should cultivate goodwill by greeting with a smile and replying in gentle, sweet speech. Courteous communication is presented as a practical element of rajadharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma continues advising the ruler on how to deal with subjects. Here he emphasizes that public support makes the king formidable and capable, and he prescribes a concrete behavioral norm: smiling address and sweet replies to the people.