Shloka 45
Gārhasthya-Śreṣṭhatā and Kṣatriya-Daṇḍadhāraṇa
Householder Primacy and the Royal Duty of Punishment
व्यास उवाच स राजा पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ श्रेयान् वै तेन कर्मणा । प्राप्तवान् परमां सिद्धि दक्ष: प्राचेतसो यथा,व्यासजी कहते हैं--पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ युधिष्ठिर! उस दण्ड-प्रदानरूपी कर्मसे राजा सुद्युम्न उच्चतम पदको प्राप्त हुए। उन्होंने प्रचेताओंके पुत्र दक्षकी भाँति परम सिद्धि प्राप्त की थी
vyāsa uvāca | sa rājā pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha śreyān vai tena karmaṇā | prāptavān paramāṃ siddhiṃ dakṣaḥ prācetaso yathā ||
Dijo Vyāsa: «Oh el mejor de los Pāṇḍavas, por ese mismo acto—el deber del rey de administrar el castigo—él se volvió verdaderamente excelso. El rey Sudyumna alcanzó la perfección suprema gracias a ello, así como Dakṣa, hijo de los Pracetās, obtuvo el logro más alto.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that daṇḍa—lawful punishment administered by a king—is a dharmic duty. When carried out rightly, it is not merely political control but an ethical act that can elevate the ruler and lead to ‘paramā siddhi’ (highest accomplishment).
Vyāsa addresses Yudhiṣṭhira and cites an exemplum: King Sudyumna attained the highest state through the proper performance of the kingly duty of punishment, likening his success to that of Dakṣa, famed for attaining supreme accomplishment.