Shloka 38
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
भृगुर्ददावृषिभ्यस्तु दण्डं धर्मसमाहितम् । ऋषयो लोकपालेभ्यो लोकपाला: क्षुपाय च
bhṛgur dadāv ṛṣibhyas tu daṇḍaṃ dharmasamāhitam | ṛṣayo lokapālebhyo lokapālāḥ kṣupāya ca ||
قال فاسوهاروما: إن بهريگو (Bhṛgu) أودع عند الرِّشيّين (ṛṣis) الدَّنْدَ، عصا التأديب الراسخة في الدارما. ثم سلّمها الرِّشيّون إلى حُرّاس العوالم (Lokapālas)، وسلّمها حُرّاس العوالم بدورهم إلى كْشوبا (Kṣupa). وهكذا تُوصَفُ وراثةُ سلطةٍ مشروعةٍ وُضِعت لحماية الدارما الدقيقة ونظام المجتمع.
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate power to punish (daṇḍa) is not mere force; it must be dharma-grounded and transmitted through rightful custodians (sages, cosmic guardians, and kings). Authority is ethical only when it protects order and subtle righteousness rather than serving personal desire.
Vasuharoma recounts a lineage of custody: Bhṛgu gives the dharma-aligned daṇḍa to the ṛṣis; they pass it to the lokapālas; the lokapālas pass it to Kṣupa. The verse situates royal governance within a sacred, regulated chain of responsibility.