Shloka 18
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
एतान् देवान् नमस्यन्ति प्रतापप्रणता जना: । जो देवता दूसरोंका वध करनेवाले हैं
etān devān namasyanti pratāpa-praṇatā janāḥ | na brahmāṇaṃ na dhātāraṃ na pūṣāṇaṃ kathaṃcana ||
Arjuna berkata: “Orang ramai menunduk menyembah dewa-dewa itu, tunduk oleh keperkasaan mereka. Namun mereka sama sekali tidak memuja Brahmā, tidak juga Dhātṛ (Sang Pemelihara), dan tidak pula Pūṣan (Sang Pemberi Nafkah).”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse critiques a tendency in society to revere deities primarily for their coercive power—those who punish or destroy—while neglecting reverence for principles of creation, sustenance, and nourishment (symbolized by Brahmā, Dhātṛ, and Pūṣan). It raises an ethical question about whether worship is guided by fear of power or by appreciation of sustaining goodness.
In the Shānti Parva’s reflective discourse, Arjuna speaks about human religious behavior: people bow to certain gods out of awe at their might, but do not similarly honor Brahmā, Dhātṛ, or Pūṣan. The statement functions as an observation about social values and the psychology of devotion.