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,युधिष्ठिर! यदि संसारमें दण्डकी व्यवस्था न होती तो सब लोग एक-दूसरेको नष्ट कर डालते। दण्डके ही भयसे मनुष्य आपसमें मार-काट नहीं मचाते हैं
na syād yadīha daṇḍo vai pramatheyur parasparam | bhayād daṇḍasya nānyonyaṃ ghnanti caiva yudhiṣṭhira ||
Bhīṣma bersabda: Jika di dunia ini tiada institusi hukuman (daṇḍa), manusia akan menindas dan membinasakan sesama dengan kekerasan. Kerana takut akan hukuman itulah, wahai Yudhiṣṭhira, manusia menahan diri daripada memukul dan membunuh antara satu sama lain—maka tertib masyarakat pun terpelihara.
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.