Mahabharata — Shanti Parva, Shloka 1166
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
ऋषिभिशभ्ष प्रजापालैब्रह्णैश्वाभिषेचित: । भगवान् विष्णु, देवताओंसहित इन्द्र, ऋषिसमूह, प्रजापतिगण तथा ब्राह्मणोंने पृथुका राजाके पदपर अभिषेक किया
ṛṣibhiḥ prajāpālaiḥ brāhmaṇaiś cābhiṣecitaḥ | bhagavān viṣṇuḥ devatābhiḥ sahita indraḥ ṛṣisamūhaḥ prajāpati-gaṇāś ca brāhmaṇāś ca pṛthuṃ rājapade 'bhiṣiñcan |
毗湿摩说道：诸仙人、护持众生者与婆罗门举行了王者灌顶之礼。与诸天同在，因陀罗、众仙群、诸生主（Prajāpati）以及婆罗门共同为普利图（Pṛthu）行涂油灌顶，立之为王。此段将王权视为依达摩而托付的重任——由灵性权威与神圣认可所正当化——旨在护佑百姓、整饬邦国。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Kingship is not merely personal power but a dharmic office (rājapada) that gains legitimacy through the sanction of sages, brāhmaṇas, and the divine order; the ruler is thereby obligated to protect and uphold social and moral order.
Bhīṣma recounts the consecration of King Pṛthu: sages, Prajāpatis, brāhmaṇas, and the gods—together with Indra and supported by Viṣṇu—perform the abhiṣeka, installing Pṛthu as king.