Shloka 42
न प्रेष्या वचन कुर्युर्न बाला जातु कर्हिचित् | न तिछेद् युवती धर्मे यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्,यदि दण्ड धर्म और कर्तव्यका पालन न करावे तो सेवक स्वामीकी बात न माने, बालक भी कभी माँ-बापकी आज्ञाका पालन न करें और युवती स्त्री भी अपने सतीधर्ममें स्थिर न रहे
na preṣyā vacanaṁ kuryur na bālā jātu karhicit | na tiṣṭhed yuvatī dharme yadi daṇḍo na pālayet ||
“If the power of punishment and governance (daṇḍa) is not upheld, servants will not carry out their master’s commands; children will never obey their parents; and a young woman will not remain established in her dharma. The verse declares that social and moral order depends upon the steady maintenance of lawful discipline.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma in society is sustained by daṇḍa—effective, consistent enforcement of rightful authority. Without it, obedience collapses across relationships (servant–master, child–parent, and household moral discipline), leading to disorder.
Within the Shanti Parva’s discussions on rājadharma (the duties of rule), the speaker presents a reasoning chain: if governance and punishment are not maintained, basic social bonds and duties fail. It is an argument for the necessity of disciplined administration to protect dharma.