Shloka 8
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डस्य भृशमुद्विजते नर: । तस्मात् सर्वाणि भूतानि दण्डेनैव प्रसाधयेत्
nityam udyatadaṇḍasya bhṛśam udvijate naraḥ | tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni daṇḍenaiva prasādhayet ||
قال بهيشما: إن الرجل الذي يظلّ متأهّبًا لإيقاع العقوبة يهابه الناس أشدّ الهيبة. لذلك ينبغي أن تُحفظ جميع الكائنات في النظام بالعقوبة وحدها—أي باستعمال الدَّنْدَة استعمالًا منضبطًا ذا سلطان بوصفها أداةً للحكم.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes the political-ethical role of daṇḍa: fear of punishment restrains wrongdoing, so a ruler maintains order by applying disciplined coercive authority. The verse highlights deterrence and regulation as essential tools of rāja-dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on principles of kingship and social control, explaining how subjects respond to a ruler who is constantly ready to punish and why governance relies on daṇḍa to keep society orderly.