Shloka 24
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
विनीतक्रोधहर्षा हि मन्दा वनमुपाश्रिता: । विना वध॑ न कुर्वन्ति तापसा: प्राणयापनम्,जिनमें क्रोध और हर्ष दोनों ही नहीं रह गये हैं, वे मन्दबुद्धि क्षत्रिय वनमें जाकर तपस्वी बन जाते हैं। परंतु बिना हिंसा किये वे भी जीवन-निर्वाह नहीं कर पाते हैं
vinīta-krodha-harṣā hi mandā vanam upāśritāḥ | vinā vadhaṁ na kurvanti tāpasāḥ prāṇa-yāpanam ||
Arjuna said: “Those who have subdued both anger and exhilaration, yet are dull of understanding, withdraw to the forest and take up the life of ascetics. Even they, however, cannot sustain their lives without some form of killing.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna argues that mere withdrawal to the forest and adopting ascetic externals does not automatically resolve the ethical problem of violence, because sustaining embodied life often entails some harm; therefore dharma must be judged with discernment, not by appearances alone.
In the Shanti Parva’s discussion on dharma and conduct, Arjuna speaks critically about certain Kshatriyas who, lacking true insight, renounce to the forest; he points out that even ascetics cannot maintain life entirely without causing harm.