Shloka 43
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
इन्द्रो जागर्ति भगवानिन्द्रादग्निर्विभावसु: । अग्नेर्जागर्ति वरुणो वरुणाच्च प्रजापति:
indro jāgarti bhagavān indrād agnir vibhāvasuḥ | agner jāgarti varuṇo varuṇāc ca prajāpatiḥ ||
Vasuharoma berkata: “Indra yang mulia senantiasa terjaga, waspada dalam penetapan dan penerapan daṇḍa. Dari Indra lahir Agni yang bercahaya; dari Agni, Varuṇa; dan dari Varuṇa, Prajāpati. Setelah menerima wewenang daṇḍa secara berurutan, masing-masing tetap siaga untuk menggunakannya dengan ukuran yang tepat.”
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority (daṇḍa) must be exercised with constant vigilance and proper measure. The verse frames punishment/discipline as a sacred trust transmitted through divine custodians, implying that rulers and guardians of order must remain alert, restrained, and ethically guided in its use.
Vasuharoma describes a chain of custodianship: Indra is ever watchful over the institution of daṇḍa; from him Agni, then Varuṇa, then Prajāpati receive that authority. The point is to show that maintaining order is an ongoing, wakeful duty, not a casual or impulsive act.