Shloka 33
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
ये5पि सम्मिन्नमर्यादा नास्तिका वेदनिन्दका: । तेडपि भोगाय कल्पन्ते दण्डेनाशु निपीडिता:
ye 'pi samminn amaryādā nāstikā vedanindakāḥ | te 'pi bhogāya kalpante daṇḍenāśu nipīḍitāḥ ||
Arjuna dit : «Même ceux qui brisent les bornes de la conduite juste—les athées qui vouent les Veda au mépris—sont vite pressés par le châtiment ; et, par là, ils rentrent dans le rang, redevenant aptes à une vie disciplinée et à l’ordre social.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the necessity of daṇḍa (punitive discipline) to protect maryādā (moral and social boundaries): even those who reject Vedic norms can be restrained and redirected toward orderly conduct when punishment is effectively applied.
In the Shanti Parva’s discussion of governance and dharma, Arjuna speaks to the practical role of punishment in maintaining social order, noting that offenders—especially those who undermine established norms—often return to proper conduct when checked by timely coercion.