Shloka 36
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
व्यवस्थापयति क्षिप्रमिमं लोक॑ नरेश्वर । सत्ये व्यवस्थितो धर्मों ब्राह्म॒णेष्ववतिष्ठते
vyavasthāpayati kṣipram imaṁ lokaṁ nareśvara | satye vyavasthito dharmo brāhmaṇeṣv avatiṣṭhate nareśvara ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: «Oh rey, el castigo (el poder coercitivo del rey) pone pronto a este mundo en el orden debido. El dharma sólo se mantiene firme cuando está asentado en la verdad; y ese dharma, a su vez, halla su morada perdurable entre los brahmanes.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a king’s danda (law-enforcing power) is essential to quickly stabilize society, but its legitimacy depends on satya (truth). Dharma is secure only when rooted in truth, and it is preserved and articulated through the Brahmanas as custodians of sacred learning and moral norms.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and peace, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhishthira) and explains how governance works: coercive authority maintains order, yet it must be aligned with truth and dharma, which are traditionally upheld by learned Brahmanas.