Shloka 24
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
विनीतक्रोधहर्षा हि मन्दा वनमुपाश्रिता: । विना वध॑ न कुर्वन्ति तापसा: प्राणयापनम्
vinīta-krodha-harṣā hi mandā vanam upāśritāḥ | vinā vadhaṁ na kurvanti tāpasāḥ prāṇa-yāpanam ||
Arjuna dit : «Ceux qui ont dompté la colère comme l’exaltation, mais dont l’intelligence demeure obtuse, se retirent dans la forêt et prennent la vie d’ascètes. Pourtant, même eux ne peuvent subsister sans quelque forme de mise à mort.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Arjuna argues that mere withdrawal to the forest and adopting ascetic externals does not automatically resolve the ethical problem of violence, because sustaining embodied life often entails some harm; therefore dharma must be judged with discernment, not by appearances alone.
In the Shanti Parva’s discussion on dharma and conduct, Arjuna speaks critically about certain Kshatriyas who, lacking true insight, renounce to the forest; he points out that even ascetics cannot maintain life entirely without causing harm.