Shloka 10
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
यदतप्तं प्रणमते नैतत् संतापमर्हति । यत् स्वयं नमते दारु न तत् संनामयन्त्यपि
yad-ataptaṁ praṇamate na etat santāpam arhati | yat svayaṁ namate dāru na tat saṁnāmayanty api ||
毗湿摩说道：“未曾为艰难所灼而自愿俯首者，并不因此应受更深的痛苦。正如木材若自能弯曲，他人便不再强压；同样，甘心谦下、主动顺从之人，通常也不再遭受额外的强迫。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Voluntary humility prevents escalation: one who bows of their own accord, without being compelled by suffering, is less likely to face further harsh treatment—like naturally bending wood that needs no forcing.
In Shanti Parva, Bhishma instructs on dharma and practical ethics. Here he uses a simple analogy (wood that bends on its own) to advise that willing submission and modesty can avert additional pressure and pain in social and political life.