Shloka 15
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
वसुहोम बोले--राजन्! दण्ड सम्पूर्ण जगत्के नियमके अंदर रखनेवाला है। यह धर्मका सनातन स्वरूप है। इसका उद्देश्य है प्रजाको उद्दण्डतासे बचाना। इसकी उत्पत्ति जिस तरहसे हुई है, सो बता रहा हूँ; सुनो ।। ब्रह्मा यियक्षुर्भगवान् सर्वतलोकपितामह: । ऋत्विजं नात्मनस्तुल्यं ददर्शेति हि नः श्रुतम्,हमारे सुननेमें आया है कि सर्वलोकपितामह भगवान् ब्रह्मा किसी समय यज्ञ करना चाहते थे; किंतु उन्हें अपने योग्य कोई ऋत्विज नहीं दिखायी दिया
Vasuharomā uvāca—rājan! daṇḍaḥ sampūrṇaṁ jagad niyamasya antargataṁ dhārayati. eṣa dharmasya sanātanaḥ svarūpaḥ. asya prayojanaṁ prajāṁ auddaṇḍyāt rakṣitum. asya utpattiḥ yathābhūtā mayā te kathyate; śṛṇu. brahmā yiyakṣuḥ bhagavān sarvalokapitāmahaḥ, ṛtvijaṁ nātmanas tulyaṁ dadarśa—iti hi naḥ śrutam.
Vasuharoma said: “O king, punishment (daṇḍa) is what keeps the entire world within the bounds of order. This is the eternal form of dharma, meant to protect the people from lawlessness and arrogance. I will now tell you how it originated—listen. We have heard that once the blessed Brahmā, the grandsire of all worlds, wished to perform a sacrifice, but he could not find a priest (ṛtvij) equal to himself.”
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Daṇḍa (punitive authority) is presented as an eternal instrument of dharma that maintains social and cosmic order by restraining unruliness; its ethical aim is protection of the people rather than mere retribution.
Vasuharoma begins explaining the origin and purpose of daṇḍa to the king, introducing a traditional account in which Brahmā wishes to perform a sacrifice but cannot find an officiating priest equal to himself—setting up the ensuing origin-story.