Shloka 23
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
युधिष्ठि! असि, विशसन, धर्म, तीक्ष्णवर्मा, दुराधर, श्रीगर्भ, विजय, शास्ता, व्यवहार, सनातन, शास्त्र, ब्राह्मण, मन्त्र, शास्ता, प्राग्वदतांवर, धर्मपाल, अक्षर, देव, सत्यग, नित्यग, अग्रज, असंग, रुद्रतनय, मनु, ज्येष्ठ और शिवंकर--ये दण्डके नाम कहे गये हैं || २०-- २२ || दण्डो हि भगवान् विष्णुर्दण्डो नारायण: प्रभु: । शश्वद् रूपं महद् बिशभ्रन्महान् पुरुष उच्यते
yudhiṣṭhira! asi, viśasana, dharma, tīkṣṇavarmā, durādhara, śrīgarbha, vijaya, śāstā, vyavahāra, sanātana, śāstra, brāhmaṇa, mantra, śāstā, prāgvadatāṃ vara, dharmapāla, akṣara, deva, satyaga, nityaga, agraja, asaṅga, rudratanaya, manu, jyeṣṭha, śivaṃkara—ete daṇḍake nāma kahe gatāḥ || 20–22 || daṇḍo hi bhagavān viṣṇur daṇḍo nārāyaṇaḥ prabhuḥ | śaśvad rūpaṃ mahad bibhran mahān puruṣa ucyate ||
Bhīṣma said: “O Yudhiṣṭhira, the Rod of chastisement (Daṇḍa)—the power that restrains and governs—has many revered names: Sword, Slayer, Dharma, He of keen armour, The hard-to-bear, He who bears prosperity, Victory, Ruler, Right conduct, The Eternal, Scripture, Brāhmaṇa, Mantra, The Instructor, Best among the eloquent, Protector of dharma, The Imperishable, God, He who moves in truth, He who moves eternally, The Elder, The Unattached, Son of Rudra, Manu, The Eldest, and Auspicious-maker. These are declared to be the names of Daṇḍa. For Daṇḍa is indeed the Blessed Viṣṇu; Daṇḍa is the sovereign Nārāyaṇa. Ever bearing a vast and enduring form, he is called the Great Person.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage sacralizes political authority: Daṇḍa (discipline/punishment) is not mere force but a divine principle that protects dharma and sustains social order. When exercised rightly, it becomes the guardian of truth, law, and ethical life.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira on righteous rule. Here he lists honorific names of Daṇḍa and then identifies Daṇḍa with Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa, emphasizing that governance and justice are sacred responsibilities, not personal power.