Shloka 37
राजा-दैवतत्वम् — The King as a Stabilizing ‘Daivata’ (Divine Function) in Social Order
भोजनान्यथ पानानि राज्ञे दग्युर्ग्हाणि च । आसनानि च शबय्याक्ष सर्वोपकरणानि च
bhojanāny atha pānāni rājñe gṛhāṇi ca | āsanāni ca śayyāś ca sarvopakaraṇāni ca ||
毗湿摩说道：“当为国王备办饮食、居处、座席与卧榻，以及一切所需之物。因为国王若为他人所制伏，便会成为举国百姓受苦之因；故民众应当向国王奉献诸般资助——如华盖、车乘、衣服、饰物、饮食、居所、座席、卧榻等——使邦国安固，政教得以善治。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The welfare of the people is tied to the stability and strength of righteous kingship; therefore subjects have a civic-dharmic duty to materially support the king with necessities so that he can protect the realm and prevent collective suffering.
In Bhishma’s instruction on rajadharma in the Shanti Parva, he explains to the listener that a king’s defeat harms the whole population, and thus enumerates the kinds of provisions and resources that subjects should offer to sustain royal authority and public security.