Shloka 30
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
Devanagari script
दण्डश्नेन्न भवेललोके विनश्येयुरिमा: प्रजा: । जले मत्स्यानिवाभक्ष्यन् दुर्बलान्ू बलवत्तरा:,यदि संसारमें दण्ड न रहे तो यह सारी प्रजा नष्ट हो जाय; और जैसे जलनमें बड़े मत्स्य छोटी मछलियोंको खा जाते हैं उसी प्रकार प्रबल जीव दुर्बल जीवोंको अपना आहार बना लें
Translation
If there were no daṇḍa—the power of punishment—in the world, this whole people would perish; and as in the waters the larger fish devour the smaller, so would the strong make food of the weak.
Word by Word
दण्डःpunishment/rod (authority of punishment)
दण्डः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदण्ड
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नnot
न:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन
भवेत्would be / were to exist
भवेत्:
TypeVerb
Rootभू
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
लोकेin the world
लोके:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootलोक
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
विनश्येयुःwould perish
विनश्येयुः:
TypeVerb
Rootनश्
FormOptative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
इमाःthese
इमाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootइदम्
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
प्रजाःcreatures/subjects
प्रजाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्रजा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Plural
जलेin water
जले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootजल
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
मत्स्यान्fish
मत्स्यान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमत्स्य
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
इवlike/as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
अभक्ष्यन्devouring/eating
अभक्ष्यन्:
TypeVerb
Rootभक्ष्
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Plural
दुर्बलान्the weak
दुर्बलान्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्बल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
बलवत्तराःthe stronger
बलवत्तराः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootबलवत्
FormComparative, Masculine, Nominative, Plural
Speaker
अजुन उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Cross References
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes