Shloka 76
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
दण्डनीति: स्वथर्मेभ्यश्चातुर्वर्ण्य नियच्छति । प्रयुक्ता स्वामिना सम्यगधर्मेभ्यो नियच्छति
daṇḍanītiḥ svadharmebhyaś cāturvarṇyaṃ niyacchati | prayuktā svāminā samyag adharmebhyo niyacchati ||
Bhīṣma dit : «La daṇḍanīti, science du châtiment et du gouvernement, retient les quatre varṇa afin qu’ils ne s’écartent pas de leurs devoirs propres. Lorsqu’elle est appliquée avec justesse par le souverain, elle les empêche aussi de tomber dans l’inconduite, l’adharma.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Daṇḍanīti—punitive and administrative governance—functions as a moral regulator: it keeps society aligned with svadharma and prevents descent into adharma, provided the ruler applies it correctly and proportionately.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma is teaching Yudhiṣṭhira about the necessity of disciplined governance: the king’s proper use of punishment and law maintains social order and curbs wrongdoing.