Shloka 3

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

दण्ड: संरक्षते धर्म तथैवार्थ जनाधिप । कार्म संरक्षते दण्डस्त्रिवर्गों दण्ड उच्यते,जनेश्वर! दण्ड ही धर्म और अर्थकी रक्षा करता है, वही कामका भी रक्षक है, अतः दण्ड त्रिवर्गरूप कहा जाता है

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca |

daṇḍaḥ saṁrakṣate dharmaṁ tathaivārthaṁ janādhipa |

kāmaṁ saṁrakṣate daṇḍas trivargo daṇḍa ucyate ||

Translation

Arjuna said: O ruler of men, punishment (the king’s coercive power) safeguards dharma, and likewise protects artha; it also restrains and regulates kāma. Therefore, daṇḍa is spoken of as embodying and upholding the three aims of life (trivarga).

Word by Word

दण्डःpunishment; rod; royal authority

संरक्षतेprotects

धर्मम्dharma; righteousness; law

तथाthus; likewise

एवindeed; just

अर्थम्wealth; polity; material good

जनाधिपO ruler of people

कामम्desire; pleasure

संरक्षतेprotects

दण्डःpunishment; royal authority

त्रिवर्गःthe set of three aims (dharma-artha-kama)

दण्डःpunishment; royal authority

उच्यतेis called; is said

जनेश्वरO lord of people

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

janādhipa (the king/ruler addressed)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate royal punishment (daṇḍa) is not mere violence; it is a moral-political instrument that preserves dharma, secures social and economic welfare (artha), and keeps desire (kāma) within lawful bounds—thus sustaining the trivarga.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s discussion of kingship and right conduct, Arjuna addresses a ruler and emphasizes that governance through daṇḍa is essential for maintaining the three aims of life, framing punishment as protective and regulative rather than arbitrary.