Shloka 25
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
तस्माच्च धर्मचरणाजन्नीतिर्देवी सरस्वती । ससूजे दण्डनीतिं सा त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता,उससे धर्माचरण होता देख नीतिस्वरूपा देवी सरस्वतीने दण्डनीतिकी रचना की जो तीनों लोकोंमें विख्यात है
tasmāc ca dharmacaraṇāj jan nītir devī sarasvatī | sasūje daṇḍanītiṃ sā triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā ||
Maka, melihat dharma diamalkan, Dewi Sarasvatī—yang menjelmakan nīti (kebijaksanaan tata laku dan dasar pemerintahan)—melahirkan daṇḍanīti, ilmu tentang pemerintahan dan hukuman, yang masyhur di tiga alam.
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Daṇḍa (lawful punishment/authority) is presented as an ethical instrument grounded in dharma and guided by nīti (wise policy). Its legitimacy comes from protecting righteousness and maintaining order, not from arbitrary power.
Vasuharoma states that, upon observing dharma in practice, the goddess Sarasvatī manifested the doctrine of daṇḍanīti—principles of governance and punishment—so that order could be upheld across the three worlds.