Shloka 35

Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद

Devanagari script

दण्डेन रक्ष्यमाणा हि राजन्नहरह: प्रजा: । राजानं वर्धयन्तीह तस्माद्‌ दण्ड: परायणम्‌

Transliteration

daṇḍena rakṣyamāṇā hi rājan aharahaḥ prajāḥ | rājānaṁ vardhayantīha tasmād daṇḍaḥ parāyaṇam, rājan ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: O king, it is only when the people are protected by punishment (law and coercive authority) day after day that they prosper and, in turn, continually strengthen the king here—through wealth, grain, and support. Therefore, O king, daṇḍa (the power of just punishment) is the ultimate refuge and sustaining foundation for all.

Word by Word

• दण्डेन: by punishment/rod (authority)
• दण्डेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• रक्ष्यमाणाः: being protected
• रक्ष्यमाणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural, शानच् (present passive participle)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अहरहः: day by day
• अहरहः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहरहः

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वर्धयन्ति: increase/prosper (make flourish)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (तद्)

• दण्डः: punishment/rod (sovereign authority)
• दण्डः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परायणम्: refuge/ultimate resort
• Type: Noun
• Root: परायण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• the king (rājan)
• prajā (the subjects/people)
• daṇḍa (punitive authority/law)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s foremost duty is to protect society through just enforcement (daṇḍa). When law and punishment restrain wrongdoing, the people flourish and naturally sustain the kingdom; thus daṇḍa is presented as the essential support of governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and explains why the ruler must maintain order: protected subjects prosper and thereby enrich and strengthen the ruler and the realm.