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Shloka 15

Vidurā–Putra Saṃvāda: Utsāha, Kīrti, and Kṣātra Resolve

Udyoga-parva 131

दण्डनीत्यां यदा राजा सम्यक्‌ कार्त्स्न्येन वर्तते | तदा कृतयुगं नाम काल: श्रेष्ठ: प्रवर्तते,यदि राजा दण्डनीतिके प्रयोगमें पूर्णतः न्यायसे काम लेता है तो जगत्‌में 'सत्ययुग' नामक उत्तम काल आ जाता है

daṇḍanītyāṃ yadā rājā samyak kārtsnyena vartate | tadā kṛtayugaṃ nāma kālaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ pravartate ||

Wenn ein König in der daṇḍanīti mit voller und unparteiischer Richtigkeit handelt, dann tritt in der Welt das beste Zeitalter in Kraft, das Kṛta Yuga genannt wird.

दण्डनीत्याम्in the policy of punishment/governance
दण्डनीत्याम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदण्डनीति
FormFeminine, Locative, Singular
यदाwhen
यदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा
राजाthe king
राजा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootराजन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
सम्यक्properly, rightly
सम्यक्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्यक्
कार्त्स्न्येनwith completeness, entirely
कार्त्स्न्येन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकार्त्स्न्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
वर्ततेconducts himself, acts
वर्तते:
TypeVerb
Rootवृत्
FormPresent, Atmanepada, Third, Singular
तदाthen
तदा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतदा
कृतयुगम्the Kṛta-yuga (Satya-yuga)
कृतयुगम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकृतयुग
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
नामby name, called
नाम:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनाम
कालःtime, age
कालः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकाल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
श्रेष्ठःexcellent, best
श्रेष्ठः:
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्रवर्ततेcomes into operation, prevails
प्रवर्तते:
TypeVerb
Rootप्रवृत्
FormPresent, Atmanepada, Third, Singular

वायुदेव उवाच

V
Vāyudeva (the Wind-god)
R
rājā (the king)
D
daṇḍanīti (policy of punishment/governance)
K
Kṛta Yuga (Satya Yuga)
K
kāla (Time/Age)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that the moral quality of an age depends on the ruler’s conduct: when a king applies daṇḍanīti fully and rightly—without partiality and with comprehensive justice—society experiences conditions akin to Kṛta (Satya) Yuga, the best of times.

Vāyudeva is speaking about principles of kingship and social order, asserting a causal link between righteous governance (proper use of punishment and law) and the flourishing of an ideal, truth-centered era.