बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
मनवे सूर्यपुत्राय ददु: खड्गं सुविस्तरम् । बेटा! फिर महेन्द्रने लोकपालोंको और लोकपालोंने सूर्य-पुत्र मननुको वह विशाल खड्ग दे दिया
manave sūryaputrāya daduḥ khaḍgaṃ suvistaram |
毗湿摩说道:“他们把一柄宽阔而雄伟的宝剑赐给了摩奴——太阳之子。”在叙事的推进中,此剑被呈现为天授之器,用以施行正法之治——象征护持秩序(达摩)乃由更高的正当授权托付于堪当的君王,而非仅凭个人之力。
भीष्म उवाच
Legitimate power is not mere violence; the sword signifies entrusted responsibility. A ruler is authorized to protect dharma only when authority is received through rightful lineage and higher moral sanction, and is used for safeguarding society.
Bhishma recounts a transmission of a great sword to Manu, the Sun’s son. The episode frames the weapon as a divinely conferred tool of governance, indicating how protective power is handed down to uphold order.