Shloka 10
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
असम्मोहाय मर्त्यनामर्थसंरक्षणाय च | मर्यादा स्थापिता लोके दण्डसंज्ञा विशाम्पते,प्रजानाथ! मनुष्योंको प्रमादसे बचाने और उनके धनकी रक्षा करनेके लिये लोकमें जो मर्यादा स्थापित की गयी है, उसीका नाम दण्ड है
asammohāya martyānām artha-saṁrakṣaṇāya ca | maryādā sthāpitā loke daṇḍa-saṁjñā viśāmpate prajānātha |
হে প্রজাপতি! মর্ত্যদের অপ্রমাদে স্থির রাখতে এবং তাদের সম্পদ রক্ষা করতে লোকেতে যে শৃঙ্খলার সীমারেখা স্থাপিত হয়েছে, তাকেই ‘দণ্ড’ বলা হয়।
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Daṇḍa (punitive authority) is justified as a dharmic instrument: it establishes maryādā (limits and order) so that people do not fall into negligence and wrongdoing, and so that their property and material interests are protected.
Arjuna addresses a ruler-like figure (prajānātha/viśāmpati) and defines daṇḍa as the socially established mechanism of restraint and protection—linking political authority to ethical responsibility toward subjects.