Shloka 54
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
यश्न वेदप्रसूतात्मा स धर्मो गुणदर्शन: । धर्मप्रत्यय उद्दिष्टो यथाधर्म कृतात्मभि:
yaś ca vedaprasūtātmā sa dharmo guṇadarśanaḥ | dharmapratyaya uddiṣṭo yathādharma kṛtātmabhiḥ ||
ビーシュマは言った。「その本質がヴェーダより顕れ出るもの、それをダルマと呼ぶ。ダルマは必ずや自らの徳相――すなわち有益なる果報――を現す。ゆえに、行い清らかな者たちは、ダルマへの信を根として刑罰（ダンダ）を定め、ダルマに則ってこれを執行すべしと説いたのである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is rooted in Vedic revelation and is self-validating through its visible fruits; hence social discipline and punishment should be grounded in dharmic conviction and applied strictly in accordance with Dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous rule and conduct, Bhishma explains to Yudhishthira the basis of Dharma and why the wise prescribe danda (punishment) not as mere force but as a dharma-based instrument of order.