Shloka 41

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

न चोष्टरा न बलीवर्दा नाश्वाश्वतरगर्दभा: | युक्ता वहेयुर्यानानि यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्‌,यदि दण्ड कर्तव्यका पालन न करावे तो ऊँट, बैल, घोड़े, खच्चर और गदहे रथोंमें जोत दिये जानेपर भी उन्हें ढोकर ले न जायेँ

Transliteration

na coṣṭrā na balīvardā nāśvāśvataragardabhāḥ | yuktā vaheyur yānāni yadi daṇḍo na pālayet ||

Translation

Arjuna said: “If the power of punishment and discipline (daṇḍa) did not uphold order, then even when yoked to vehicles, camels, bulls, horses, mules, and donkeys would not carry the loads or draw the conveyances. Therefore governance through daṇḍa is set forth as a necessary instrument for maintaining duty, obedience, and the working of society.”

Word by Word

नnot

चand

उष्ट्राःcamels

नnor

बलीवर्दाःbulls/oxen

नnor

अश्वाःhorses

अश्वतराःmules

गर्दभाःdonkeys

युक्ताःyoked/harnessed

वहेयुःwould carry/transport

यानानिvehicles/carts

यदिif

दण्डःpunishment/rod (authority of punishment)

नnot

पालयेत्would protect/maintain/enforce

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

daṇḍa (punitive authority)

uṣṭra (camel)

balīvarda (bull/ox)

aśva (horse)

aśvatara (mule)

gardabha (donkey)

yāna (vehicle/cart)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes