Shloka 34
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
नमस्येरंश्व॒ तं भक्त्या शिष्या इव गुरुं सदा । देवा इव च देवेन्द्रं तत्र राजानमन्तिके
namasyeraṁś ca taṁ bhaktyā śiṣyā iva guruṁ sadā | devā iva ca devendraṁ tatra rājānam antike ||
毗湿摩说道：“当以虔敬之心常向彼王致礼，如弟子礼敬师长，又如诸天礼拜天帝因陀罗。照此，百姓在君王之前亦当恭敬致敬。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that public order and righteous governance are supported when subjects approach the king with reverence and disciplined respect—modeled on the devotion of a disciple to a guru and the gods’ homage to Indra.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira about proper conduct between subjects and the ruler, emphasizing respectful salutation and deference in the king’s presence.