Shloka 9
The Origin of the Daṇḍaka Forest and Rāma’s Dharma-Judgment
Vulture vs. Owl
अपराधिषु यो दंडः पात्यते मानवैरिह । स दंडो विधिवन्मुक्तः स्वर्गं नयति पार्थिवम्
aparādhiṣu yo daṃḍaḥ pātyate mānavairiha | sa daṃḍo vidhivanmuktaḥ svargaṃ nayati pārthivam
इथे अपराध्यांवर लोक जो दंड लावतात—तो दंड विधीनुसार दिला व सोडला गेला तर तोच दंड राजाला स्वर्गप्राप्ती करून देतो.
Unspecified (context not provided in input; likely a narrator or a senior interlocutor in the chapter’s dialogue)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: celestial_realm
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मानवैर्हि = मानवैः + इह (विसर्गलोप/रेफसन्धि); दंडो = दण्डः + (अ/ओ संधि) in metrical form; वधिवन्मुक्तः = विधिवत् + मुक्तः (त् + म् → न्म्).
FAQs
It teaches that punishment must follow proper rule and procedure (vidhivat); justice administered lawfully becomes a merit-bearing duty rather than mere violence.
Because enforcing dharma through fair, regulated justice is presented as a righteous obligation of kingship (rājadharma), generating spiritual merit when done correctly.
No. The emphasis is on lawful, disciplined administration and proper release/remission (muktaḥ) according to rules—suggesting restraint, proportionality, and due process.