Shloka 60
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
माता पिता च भ्राता च भार्या चैव पुरोहित: । नादण्ड्यो विद्यते राज्ञो यः स्वधर्मे न तिष्ठति
mātā pitā ca bhrātā ca bhāryā caiva purohitaḥ | nādaṇḍyo vidyate rājño yaḥ svadharme na tiṣṭhati ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王にとって、罰を免れる者は一人もいない。母であれ父であれ兄弟であれ妻であれ、さらには王家の祭官であっても、その者が自らのダルマに堅く立たぬならば、必ず王は罰すべきである。王の正義はダルマを護るため、最も近しく最も尊ばれる者であっても、正しき行いから逸れれば責を負わせねばならぬ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s duty is impartial justice: no relationship or status—family ties or priestly authority—creates immunity if a person abandons svadharma. Upholding dharma requires equal accountability.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of governance. Here he emphasizes that the ruler must punish wrongdoing even among the closest relatives and the purohita when they deviate from their duties.