Shloka 75

Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच महाभाग्यं दण्डनीत्या: सिद्धै: शब्दे: सहेतुकै: । शृणु मे शंसतो राजन्‌ यथावदिह भारत

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | mahābhāgyaṃ daṇḍanītyāḥ siddhaiḥ śabdaiḥ sahetukaiḥ | śṛṇu me śaṃsato rājan yathāvad iha bhārata ||

Translation

Bhishma said: O King, O Bharata scion—listen here, as I explain in due order. I shall describe, in well-established and reasoned words, the great good fortune that arises for a ruler and his people from the science of governance and punishment (daṇḍanīti).

Word by Word

• {'bhīṣma uvāca': 'Bhishma said', 'mahābhāgyam': 'great fortune

• high good', 'daṇḍanītyāḥ': 'of daṇḍanīti

• statecraft', 'siddhaiḥ': 'established

• authoritative', 'śabdaiḥ': 'with words

• by expressions', 'sahetukaiḥ': 'with reasons

• supported by causes/arguments', 'śṛṇu': 'listen', 'me': 'from me

• my', 'śaṃsataḥ': 'as I declare/explain

• while I am expounding', 'rājan': 'O king', 'yathāvat': 'properly

• correctly', 'iha': 'here

• in this context', 'bhārata': 'O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the King (Yudhishthira, implied)
• Bharata lineage (Bhārata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma introduces daṇḍanīti (the disciplined use of authority, law, and punishment) as a source of great welfare for both ruler and subjects, and signals that his account will be grounded in established tradition and rational justification.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva dialogue on kingship, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhishthira) and begins a structured exposition on statecraft, asking him to listen carefully as he explains the benefits and principles of governance.