Shloka 77
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
दण्डेन सहिता होषा लोकरक्षणकारिका । निग्रहानुग्रहरता लोकाननुचरिष्यति,“दण्ड-विधानके साथ रहनेवाली यह नीति सम्पूर्ण जगत्की रक्षा करनेवाली है। यह दुष्टोंके निग्रह और साधु पुरुषोंके प्रति अनुग्रहमें तत्पर रहकर सम्पूर्ण जगतमें प्रचलित होगी
daṇḍena sahitā hy eṣā nītir lokarakṣaṇakārikā | nigrahānugraharatā lokān anucariṣyati ||
Bhishma dijo: «Esta política de gobierno, cuando va unida a la vara del castigo (daṇḍa), se convierte en protectora del mundo. Dedicada a reprimir a los malvados y a favorecer a los virtuosos, actuará en toda la sociedad y mantendrá al pueblo en orden.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Effective and ethical governance (nīti) must be supported by daṇḍa—measured punitive authority—so that society is protected through two complementary duties: restraining wrongdoers (nigraha) and supporting the virtuous (anugraha).
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma continues advising the king on how order is maintained: policy becomes truly world-protecting when it is backed by enforceable discipline, applied firmly against the wicked and benevolently toward the good.