This may be paraphrased as "Ruler is he who is ruler over himself." No man can be called a king whose subjects do not obey him. Who and what are the subjects of the king? They are not only the personalities who give real or pretended obeisance; they include the thoughts and passions of the personality, and his real or potential control over affairs.
Thought-concentration on a king or by a king over his dominion subtly connects the breath of that one with the affairs of the kingdom. This means that there is a strong karmic link between all movements, inner or outer, of the king, and those of the kingdom. This is true for every individual, free or slave, whether one bows to another, has others bow to him, or neither bows or is bowed before.