Shloka 36
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
विधाताने दण्डका विधान इस उद्देश्यसे किया है कि चारों वर्णोके लोग आनन्दसे रहें, सबमें अच्छी नीतिका बर्ताव हो तथा पृथ्वीपर धर्म और अर्थकी रक्षा रहे ।। यदि दण्डान्न बिभ्येयुर्वयांसि श्वापदानि च । अद्यु: पशून् मनुष्यांश्व॒ यज्ञार्थानि हवींषि च,यदि पक्षी और हिंसक जीव दण्डके भयसे डरते न होते तो वे पशुओं, मनुष्यों और यज्ञके लिये रखे हुए हविष्योंको खा जाते
daṇḍakāḥ vidhātānena etad-uddeśena kṛtāḥ yat caturṇāṁ varṇānāṁ lokā ānandena tiṣṭheyuḥ, sarveṣu sad-nīti-vyavahāraḥ syāt, tathā pṛthivyāṁ dharmārthayoḥ rakṣā bhavet. yadi daṇḍān na bibhyeyur vayāṁsi śvāpādāni ca, adyuḥ paśūn manuṣyāṁś ca yajñārthāni havīṁṣi ca.
The Ordainer established punishment (daṇḍa) with this aim: that people of the four social orders may live in contentment, that good conduct and sound policy may prevail among all, and that on earth both dharma and material welfare (artha) be protected. For if birds and predatory beasts did not fear punishment, they would devour livestock and even human beings, and they would consume the oblations (havis) kept for sacrifice (yajña) as well.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment (daṇḍa), as a principle of governance, is justified as a protective force: it sustains social peace, enables ethical conduct (nīti), and safeguards both dharma (moral order) and artha (public welfare). Without deterrence, the strong would prey upon the weak and even sacred institutions like sacrifice would be endangered.
In the Shanti Parva’s discourse on kingship and order, the speaker explains why the institution of punishment was established. A concrete example is given: if animals and birds did not fear chastisement, they would freely ravage herds, harm people, and consume sacrificial offerings—showing how daṇḍa functions as a necessary restraint in society.