Shloka 34
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
न स्याद् यदीह दण्डो वै प्रमथेयु: परस्परम् । भयाद् दण्डस्य नान्योन्यं घ्नन्ति चैव युधिष्ठिर
na syād yadīha daṇḍo vai pramatheyur parasparam | bhayād daṇḍasya nānyonyaṃ ghnanti caiva yudhiṣṭhira ||
भीष्म म्हणाले—हे युधिष्ठिर! या जगात दंडाची व्यवस्था नसती, तर लोक परस्परांना छळून नष्ट करून टाकले असते. दंडाच्या भयामुळेच मनुष्य एकमेकांवर प्रहार व वध करीत नाहीत; त्यामुळेच लोकव्यवस्था टिकून राहते.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment (daṇḍa), as a principle of governance, restrains human aggression; fear of lawful consequences prevents mutual violence and thereby sustains social order and dharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira that a functioning system of punishment is necessary; without it, people would prey upon one another, while its deterrent force keeps society from descending into chaos.