Shloka 1
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
भीकम (2 अमान पजञ्चदशो< ध्याय: अर्जुनके द्वारा राजदण्डकी महत्ताका वर्णन वैशम्पायन उवाच याज्ञसेन्या वच:ः श्रुत्वा पुनरेवार्जुनो5ब्रवीत् । अनुमान्य महाबाहुं ज्येष्ठ भ्रातरमच्युतम्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | yājñasenyā vacaḥ śrutvā punar evārjuno 'bravīt | anumānya mahābāhuṁ jyeṣṭha-bhrātaram acyutam |
Waiśampāyana berkata: Setelah mendengar kata-kata Yājñasenī (Draupadī), Arjuna berbicara lagi. Dengan memberi hormat sepantasnya kepada kakak sulungnya, Yudhiṣṭhira—yang berlengan perkasa dan tak pernah menyimpang dari tata-dharma—ia menyampaikan jawabannya menurut tuntutan rajadharma.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical discourse through proper relational conduct: even when responding to a provocative or urgent appeal (Draupadī’s words), Arjuna proceeds by honoring the elder brother-king, implying that counsel on power and punishment (daṇḍa) must be grounded in respect, hierarchy, and dharma.
After hearing Draupadī’s statement, Arjuna resumes speaking. The narrator notes that Arjuna first shows due respect to his elder brother Yudhiṣṭhira—described as mighty and steadfast in propriety—before continuing his argument (in this chapter, connected with the greatness of royal punishment/authority).