Shanti Parva Adhyaya 122 Shloka 53 - Mahabharata | English | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

दण्ड: प्रत्ययदृष्टोडपि व्यवहारात्मक: स्मृत: । व्यवहार: स्मृतो यश्चव॒ स वेदविषयात्मक:

Transliteration

daṇḍaḥ pratyayadṛṣṭo 'pi vyavahārātmakaḥ smṛtaḥ | vyavahāraḥ smṛto yaś ca sa vedaviṣayātmakaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma said: Even when punishment (daṇḍa) is perceived on the basis of trust and accepted conviction, it is still to be understood as belonging to the sphere of lawful procedure (vyavahāra). And whatever is recognized as lawful procedure is not outside the domain of the Veda; it is grounded in Vedic principles. Thus, social-legal enforcement and adjudication, even when relying on credible belief, remain instruments of dharma rather than arbitrary force.

Word by Word

दण्डःpunishment; penalty

प्रत्ययदृष्टःseen/known through (grounds of) trust/conviction

अपिeven; although

व्यवहारात्मकःhaving the nature of legal procedure/practice

स्मृतःis regarded/remembered (as)

व्यवहारःlegal procedure; practice; transaction

स्मृतःis regarded/remembered (as)

यःwhich; who

चand

सःthat; he/it

वेदविषयात्मकःhaving the nature of (being) within the scope of the Veda

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

daṇḍa (punishment/royal authority)

vyavahāra (legal procedure)

Veda

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes