Shloka 42
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
न प्रेष्या वचन कुर्युर्न बाला जातु कर्हिचित् | न तिछेद् युवती धर्मे यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्
na preṣyā vacanaṁ kuryur na bālā jātu karhicit | na tiṣṭhed yuvatī dharme yadi daṇḍo na pālayet ||
«إذا لم تُصَن سلطة الحكم والعقاب (daṇḍa)، فلن ينفّذ الخدم أوامر سيدهم؛ ولن يطيع الأبناء والديهم قط؛ ولن تثبت الفتاة الشابة في دارماها. وتقرر الآية أن النظام الاجتماعي والأخلاقي قائم على دوام حفظ الانضباط المشروع.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma in society is sustained by daṇḍa—effective, consistent enforcement of rightful authority. Without it, obedience collapses across relationships (servant–master, child–parent, and household moral discipline), leading to disorder.
Within the Shanti Parva’s discussions on rājadharma (the duties of rule), the speaker presents a reasoning chain: if governance and punishment are not maintained, basic social bonds and duties fail. It is an argument for the necessity of disciplined administration to protect dharma.