Shloka 100
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
त॑ दण्डनीति: सकला श्रिता राजन् नरोत्तमम् | ततस्तु प्राञ्जलिवीैंन्यो महर्षीस्तानुवाच ह,राजन! नरश्रेष्ठ वेनकुमारको सारी दण्डनीतिका स्वतः ज्ञान हो गया। तब उन्होंने हाथ जोड़कर अन महर्षियोंसे कहा--
tā daṇḍanītiḥ sakalā śritā rājan narottamam | tatastu prāñjalir vainyo maharṣīṁs tān uvāca ha, rājan |
Bhīṣma said: “O king, the entire science of governance and punishment (daṇḍanīti) had taken refuge in that best of men. Then Vainya, the son of Vena, with hands joined in reverence, addressed those great seers—”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Daṇḍanīti—just governance and the disciplined use of authority—is presented as a complete, principled science that should ‘rest in’ an ideal ruler. Even when endowed with knowledge, the ruler must approach the sages with humility, indicating that power is legitimate only when aligned with dharma and guided by wise counsel.
Bhīṣma narrates that Vainya (Pṛthu), the son of Vena, has come to embody full knowledge of daṇḍanīti. He then respectfully joins his palms and addresses the assembled great sages, setting up a dialogue in which royal duty and governance are articulated under the guidance of ṛṣis.