Shloka 46
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
भिक्षुका: प्राड्विवाकाश्व मौहूर्ता दैवचिन्तका: । कोशो मित्राणि धान्यं च सर्वोपकरणानि च
bhikṣukāḥ prāḍvivākāś ca mauhūrtā daivacintakāḥ | kośo mitrāṇi dhānyaṃ ca sarvopakaraṇāni ca ||
Bhishma berkata: “Para pengemis suci, para peguam/pendebat yang terpelajar, ahli nujum, dan mereka yang meneliti hal ketuhanan; perbendaharaan, sekutu, simpanan gandum, serta segala jenis kelengkapan dan sumber—semuanya juga dihitung sebagai unsur yang menyokong sesebuah kerajaan. Dalam ajaran pemerintahan ini, negara dipandang seperti tubuh yang hidup: banyak anggota menegakkannya, namun disiplin dan kuasa hukuman yang sah (daṇḍa) dianggap sebagai alat utama, kerana dengannya tertib lahir dan terpelihara di antara semua bahagian.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse situates various social specialists and material resources—legal experts, astrologers/diviners, treasury, allies, provisions, and equipment—as essential supports of the kingdom, within a broader rājadharma framework where the state is viewed as an organism whose stability ultimately depends on daṇḍa (lawful discipline/punishment) to maintain order.
In the Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on rājadharma (the duties of kings). Here he continues enumerating the elements that uphold a polity—both personnel and resources—clarifying how governance relies on coordinated ‘limbs’ of the state and the regulating force of authority.