त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वमें दण्डके स्वरूपका वर्णनविषयक एक सौ इकक््कीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraḥ śrīmahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi antar-gate rājadharmānuśāsanaparvaṇi daṇḍasya svarūpasya varṇanaviṣayakaḥ ekaśata-ekaviṃśatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ
So endet das einhunderteinundzwanzigste Kapitel im Abschnitt Rājadharmānuśāsana des Śānti Parva des Mahābhārata, das von Wesen und rechter Gestalt des daṇḍa (der zwingenden Strafgewalt) und der Regierung handelt.
भीष्म उवाच
The chapter’s framing emphasizes that danda—state coercion and punishment—must be understood in its proper nature and applied as an instrument of dharma: to protect society, restrain wrongdoing, and sustain order, rather than to serve personal anger or arbitrary power.
This is a colophon-style closing line marking the end of a chapter in Bhishma’s discourse within the Shanti Parva. It identifies the location (Shanti Parva, Rajadharmanushasana section) and the topic (the nature of danda), indicating that the instructional unit has concluded.