Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 17
Bhīṣmadeva’s Passing Away in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa
तस्मादिदं दैवतन्त्रं व्यवस्य भरतर्षभ । तस्यानुविहितोऽनाथा नाथ पाहि प्रजा: प्रभो ॥ १७ ॥
tasmād idaṁ daiva-tantraṁ vyavasya bharatarṣabha tasyānuvihito ’nāthā nātha pāhi prajāḥ prabho
因此，婆罗多后裔中的至善者啊，当断定这一切皆在主的筹划之中。接受主那不可思议的安排，并依之而行。如今你被任命为政务之首；主上啊，当护佑那些已成无依的臣民。
The popular saying is that a housewife teaches the daughter-in-law by teaching the daughter. Similarly, the Lord teaches the world by teaching the devotee. The devotee does not have to learn anything new from the Lord because the Lord teaches the sincere devotee always from within. Whenever, therefore, a show is made to teach the devotee, as in the case of the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā, it is for teaching the less intelligent men. A devotee’s duty, therefore, is to ungrudgingly accept tribulations from the Lord as a benediction. The Pāṇḍavas were advised by Bhīṣmadeva to accept the responsibility of administration without hesitation. The poor subjects were without protection due to the Battle of Kurukṣetra, and they were awaiting the assumption of power by Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. A pure devotee of the Lord accepts tribulations as favors from the Lord. Since the Lord is absolute, there is no mundane difference between the two.
FAQs
This verse teaches that a ruler should establish and follow a God-centered system of dharma, and under that divine order protect the citizens who depend on the king for shelter.
After the Kurukshetra war, Yudhishthira was to rule; Bhishma instructed him in rajadharma—urging him to ground governance in divine dharma and to protect the people as their guardian.
Lead with dharma-based principles, create fair systems, and actively safeguard those without support—through ethical decisions, service, and responsibility toward dependents.