Shloka 2
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
अजुन उवाच दण्ड: शास्ति प्रजा: सर्वा दण्ड एवाभिरक्षति । दण्ड: सुप्तेषु जागर्ति दण्डं धर्म विदुर्बुधा:
arjuna uvāca | daṇḍaḥ śāsti prajāḥ sarvā daṇḍa evābhirakṣati | daṇḍaḥ supteṣu jāgarti daṇḍaṃ dharma vidur budhāḥ ||
अर्जुन बोले—राजन्! दण्ड समस्त प्रजाओं का शासन करता है और दण्ड ही सब ओर से उनकी रक्षा करता है। सबके सो जाने पर भी दण्ड जागता रहता है; इसलिए बुद्धिमानों ने दण्ड को राजा का धर्म माना है।
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that daṇḍa—lawful punishment and the coercive authority of the state—is essential to uphold dharma: it restrains wrongdoing, protects society, and must remain vigilant even when individuals are careless or asleep. Hence, administering daṇḍa rightly is a central duty of the king.
In the Śānti Parva’s discourse on righteous rule and social order, Arjuna addresses the king and emphasizes that effective governance depends on daṇḍa: it governs all subjects, safeguards them, and functions as the ever-watchful instrument through which royal duty (rāja-dharma) is maintained.