Shloka 96

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

Devanagari script

इत्येवं व्यवहारस्य व्यवहारत्वमिष्यते । महाराज! धर्मका ही दूसरा नाम व्यवहार है। लोकमें सतत सावधान रहनेवाले पुरुषके धर्मका किसी तरह लोप न हो

Transliteration

ity evaṁ vyavahārasya vyavahāratvam iṣyate | mahārāja! dharmakā hī dūsarā nāma vyavahāra hai | loke satata sāvadhāna rahanevāle puruṣa-ke dharma-kā kisī tarah lopa na ho, isīliye daṇḍa-kī āvaśyakatā hai, aur yahī us vyavahāra-kā vyavahāratvamḥ hai |

Translation

Bhīṣma says: Thus it is accepted that the very “practicality” of social and legal dealings lies in this: dharma is, in effect, another name for proper conduct in the world. O great king, so that the dharma of men who must remain continually vigilant in society does not in any way fall into decline, punishment (daṇḍa) is necessary; and this necessity is precisely what makes worldly governance and adjudication truly “practical.”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति

• एवम्: in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• व्यवहारस्य: of conduct / of practical usage (vyavahāra)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहार
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• व्यवहारत्वम्: the state/character of being vyavahāra (practical conduct-ness)
• व्यवहारत्वम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यवहारत्व
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• इष्यते: is accepted / is held to be
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive/Impersonal (accepted as)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Mahārāja (the king, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira as addressee)
• Dharma
• Daṇḍa
• Vyavahāra
• Loka

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma equates dharma with proper worldly conduct (vyavahāra) and argues that daṇḍa (punitive authority) is necessary to prevent dharma from declining in society; enforcement is what makes governance and legal practice effective.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and social order, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and explains why punishment and enforcement are integral to maintaining dharma in everyday social and legal life.