Shloka 40
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
चरेयुर्नाश्रमे धर्म यथोक्त विधिमाश्रिता: । न विद्यां प्राप्तुयात् कश्चिद् यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्,यदि दण्ड मर्यादाका पालन न करावे तो लोग आश्रमोंमें रहकर विधिपूर्वक शास्त्रोक्त धर्मका पालन न करें और कोई विद्या भी न पढ़ सके
careyur nāśrame dharmaṃ yathokta-vidhim āśritāḥ | na vidyāṃ prāpnuyāt kaścid yadi daṇḍo na pālayet ||
Arjuna said: “If the rod of punishment were not upheld, people would not live within the disciplines of the āśramas and follow dharma according to the prescribed rules; indeed, no one would be able to obtain learning.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna argues that daṇḍa—lawful punitive authority—is necessary to sustain dharma in society: without enforcement, people will not adhere to prescribed disciplines (āśrama-dharma), and even the pursuit of learning (vidyā) collapses due to disorder.
Within the Śānti Parva’s discussion on governance and moral order, Arjuna speaks to emphasize the practical necessity of daṇḍa: he links the king’s enforcement of rules to the functioning of religious-social life and the possibility of education.