Shloka 69
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
अदण्ड्यत्वं च विप्राणां युक्त्या दण्डनिपातनम् | अनुजीविस्वजातिभ्यो गुणेभ्यश्व समुद्भधव:ः
adaṇḍyatvaṃ ca viprāṇāṃ yuktyā daṇḍanipātanam | anujīvisvajātibhyo guṇebhyaś ca samudbhavaḥ ||
भीष्म बोले—उस उपदेश में कहा गया है कि ब्राह्मणों को शारीरिक दण्ड न दिया जाए; अपराधियों को युक्ति और विधि के अनुसार दण्ड दिया जाए; तथा अपने आश्रितों, अपने जाति-भाइयों और गुणवान् पुरुषों की उन्नति और कल्याण किया जाए।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment (daṇḍa) must be applied with discernment and justice: Brahmins are traditionally exempt from corporal chastisement, while wrongdoers should be punished through reasoned, lawful procedure; additionally, a ruler should actively foster the prosperity of dependents, one’s own community, and the virtuous.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and social order, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on how a ruler should administer punishment and protect society—balancing restraint toward Brahmins with firm, rational discipline for offenders and promoting the welfare of those under the ruler’s care.