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 ||
ヴァスハローマは言った。「福徳あるインドラは、ダンダ（刑罰）の定めと施行において常に目覚め、怠りなく見張っている。インドラより光輝く火神アグニが生じ、アグニよりヴァルナが生じ、ヴァルナよりプラジャーパティが生じた。かくしてダンダの権威を順次受け継いだ者は、それぞれが正しい分量で用いるため、絶えず覚醒している。」
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.