Shloka 30

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

सम्यग्दण्डधरो नित्यं राजा धर्ममवाप्नुयात्‌ । नृपस्य सततं दण्ड: सम्यग्‌ धर्म: प्रशस्थते

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

samyag-daṇḍadharo nityaṁ rājā dharmam avāpnuyāt |

nṛpasya satataṁ daṇḍaḥ samyag dharmaḥ praśasyate ||

Translation

যে রাজা যথাযথভাবে দণ্ড ধারণ করেন, তিনি সর্বদা ধর্ম লাভ করেন। নৃপতির জন্য নিত্য সম্যক্ দণ্ড-প্রয়োগই উৎকৃষ্ট ধর্ম বলে প্রশংসিত।

Word by Word

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• दण्डधरः: one who bears the rod/punishment (punisher)
• दण्डधरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्डधर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अवाप्नुयात्: would attain/should obtain
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (अव-आप्)
• Form: Vidhi-ling (Optative), Present-system, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नृपस्य: of the king
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सततम्: constantly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत

• दण्डः: rod; punishment; authority of punishment
• दण्डः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सम्यक्: properly, rightly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक्

• धर्मः: dharma (as the praised ideal)
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रशस्यते: is praised/commended
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (प्र-शंस्)
• Form: Lat (Present), Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• king (rājā/nṛpa)
• daṇḍa (the rod of punishment/governance)
• dharma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Just governance requires the king to uphold daṇḍa (punishment/discipline) correctly and consistently; when punishment is administered fairly, it becomes a form of dharma that protects society and enables righteousness to flourish.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma teaches principles of rajadharma, emphasizing that a ruler’s steady, properly applied punitive authority is essential for maintaining order and is therefore praised as righteous conduct.