Shloka 10
Kṣātra-Dharma, Daṇḍanīti, and Social Order
Indra–Māndhātṛ Dialogue
साध्या देवा वसवश्षाश्रिनौ च रुद्राक्ष विश्वे मरुतां गणाश्न । सृष्टा: पुरा ह्यादिदेवेन देवा: क्षात्रे धर्मे वर्तयन्ते च सिद्धा:
sādhyā devā vasavaś cāśvinau ca rudrāś ca viśve marutāṁ gaṇāś ca | sṛṣṭāḥ purā hy ādidevena devāḥ kṣātre dharme vartayante ca siddhāḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：萨陀耶诸神、婆苏众、双阿湿毗尼、鲁陀罗众、毗湿毗天众，以及摩鲁特诸军——这些天神连同悉达（已臻圆满者），皆在远古由原初神祇所创造。安住于其被授予的卓越之位，他们依循刹帝利之法（kṣātra-dharma）而运作——以护持与正当之力为本——凭借有纪律的威力而非私欲，维系宇宙秩序。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames kṣātra-dharma (the disciplined use of power for protection and order) as a divinely instituted mode of action: even celestial beings are said to operate within this protective, force-regulating dharma, implying that rightful strength is ethical when aligned with cosmic purpose rather than personal impulse.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma lists major classes of gods and Siddhas and states that they were created by the Primeval Deity and remain established in kṣātra-dharma—supporting his broader counsel to rulers about the sacred foundations of governance, protection, and the regulated use of force.