Shloka 4
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
दण्डेन रक्ष्यते धान्यं धनं दण्डेन रक्ष्यते । एवं विद्वानुपाधत्स्व भावं पश्यस्व लौकिकम्
arjuna uvāca | daṇḍena rakṣyate dhānyaṃ dhanaṃ daṇḍena rakṣyate | evaṃ vidvān upādhatsva bhāvaṃ paśyasva laukikam ||
अर्जुन म्हणाला—दंडामुळे धान्याचे रक्षण होते; दंडामुळेच धनाचेही रक्षण होते. हे जाणून आपणही दंड धारण करा आणि लोकव्यवहाराचे वास्तव पाहा.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate authority and the capacity to punish wrongdoing (daṇḍa) are presented as necessary instruments for protecting society’s essentials—food supply and wealth—thereby sustaining order and dharma in practical life.
Arjuna urges the addressed authority figure to adopt a firm, worldly-realistic stance: to wield daṇḍa as a ruler would, because without enforcement, protection of resources and social stability cannot be maintained.