Shloka 5
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
राजदण्डभयादेके पापा: पापं न कुर्वते । यमदण्डभयादेके परलोकभयादपि
rājadaṇḍabhayād eke pāpāḥ pāpaṃ na kurvate | yamadaṇḍabhayād eke paralokabhayād api |
Arjuna dit : «Certains pécheurs s’abstiennent de pécher par crainte du châtiment du roi ; d’autres par crainte du bâton de Yama ; d’autres encore par crainte de l’au-delà. Telle est la condition naturelle du monde ; ainsi tout demeure établi sur le daṇḍa, comme force de régulation.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral restraint in society often arises not from inner virtue alone but from fear of consequences—state punishment, divine/judicial retribution (Yama), and the results in the afterlife. Hence daṇḍa (sanctioning power) is presented as a foundational support for social order.
Arjuna is speaking within the Shanti Parva’s discussions on governance and dharma, pointing out that many people avoid wrongdoing primarily due to fear of punishment and post-mortem consequences, underscoring the practical necessity of daṇḍa in maintaining order.