Shloka 42
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
न प्रेष्या वचन कुर्युर्न बाला जातु कर्हिचित् | न तिछेद् युवती धर्मे यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्
na preṣyā vacanaṁ kuryur na bālā jātu karhicit | na tiṣṭhed yuvatī dharme yadi daṇḍo na pālayet ||
«Si no se sostiene el poder del castigo y del gobierno (daṇḍa), los sirvientes no cumplirán las órdenes de su señor; los niños jamás obedecerán a sus padres; y una joven no permanecerá firme en su dharma. El verso afirma que el orden social y moral depende del mantenimiento constante de una disciplina conforme a la ley.»
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.