Shloka 77
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यदि राजा दण्डनीतिका उत्तम रीतिसे प्रयोग करे तो वह चारों वर्णोकी अपने-अपने धर्ममें बलपूर्वक लगाती है और उन्हें अधर्मकी ओर जानेसे रोक देती है ।।
cāturvarṇye svakarmasthe maryādānām asaṅkare | daṇḍanītikṛte kṣeme prajānām akuto bhaye ||
ビーシュマは言った。「王がダンダニーティ（daṇḍanīti、刑罰と統治の学）を最上の仕方で施行するなら、それは四つのヴァルナをそれぞれの義務（ダルマ）に力強く据え、アダルマへ傾くのを抑えとどめる。かくしてダンダニーティの効力により、四ヴァルナの人々が各々の正しい務めに従事し、ダルマの境界が混乱しないとき、民は安穏に住む—四方に恐れなく、しかも繁栄する。そのような状態では、三つの「再生者」（ドヴィジャ）は規定に従って健康と安寧の護持に努める。ユディシュティラよ、人の幸福はここに存する—それを知るべきである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Good governance (daṇḍanīti) is meant to secure dharma by keeping people established in their proper duties, preventing social and moral confusion, and thereby creating public fearlessness and welfare; this stable order is presented as a basis for human happiness.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on statecraft and dharma, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, explaining how a king’s proper use of punishment and policy maintains social order (cāturvarṇya in svakarma), prevents dharma-boundaries from collapsing, and ensures the people’s security and prosperity.