Shloka 8
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डस्य भृशमुद्विजते नर: । तस्मात् सर्वाणि भूतानि दण्डेनैव प्रसाधयेत्,“जो सदा दण्ड देनेके लिये उद्यत रहता है, उससे प्रजाजन बहुत डरते हैं, इसलिये समस्त प्राणियोंको दण्डके द्वारा ही काबूमें करे
nityam udyatadaṇḍasya bhṛśam udvijate naraḥ | tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni daṇḍenaiva prasādhayet ||
જે હંમેશાં દંડ આપવા તૈયાર રહે છે, તેને લોકો અત્યંત ભયથી જુએ છે. તેથી સર્વ પ્રાણીઓને દંડ દ્વારા જ શિસ્તમાં અને વશમાં રાખવા જોઈએ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes the political-ethical role of daṇḍa: fear of punishment restrains wrongdoing, so a ruler maintains order by applying disciplined coercive authority. The verse highlights deterrence and regulation as essential tools of rāja-dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on principles of kingship and social control, explaining how subjects respond to a ruler who is constantly ready to punish and why governance relies on daṇḍa to keep society orderly.