Shloka 40
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
एवंप्रयोजनश्वैव दण्ड: क्षत्रियतां गत: । रक्षन् प्रजा: स जागर्ति नित्यं स्ववहितो$क्षर:
evaṁprayojanaś caiva daṇḍaḥ kṣatriyatāṁ gataḥ | rakṣan prajāḥ sa jāgarti nityaṁ svavahito'kṣaraḥ ||
Ainsi, le daṇḍa—dont la fin même est la protection—a pris le caractère et la charge du Kṣatriya. Gardant le peuple, il demeure toujours éveillé ; et, parce qu’il est impérissable, il se tient sans cesse vigilant, ferme dans la fonction qui lui est propre.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma teaches that daṇḍa (lawful punishment/royal authority) is fundamentally for protection, not cruelty. When properly established, it embodies the Kṣatriya’s role: constant vigilance to safeguard the people and uphold order as an enduring principle of governance.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma explains to Yudhiṣṭhira the nature of kingship and statecraft. Here he personifies daṇḍa as an ever-watchful guardian that takes on the Kṣatriya-function—protecting the subjects through vigilant enforcement of dharma.