Shloka 37
Description and Measurements of Śākadvīpa
with Oceans, Mountains, Varṣas, and Rivers
शूद्रास्तु मल्लका नित्यं पुरुषा धर्मशीलिनः । न तत्र राजा विप्रेंद्रा न दंडो न च दंडिकाः
śūdrāstu mallakā nityaṃ puruṣā dharmaśīlinaḥ | na tatra rājā vipreṃdrā na daṃḍo na ca daṃḍikāḥ
Di sana para Śūdra sentiasa menjadi ‘Mallaka’—lelaki yang berpegang pada dharma. Wahai brahmana termulia, di sana tiada raja, tiada hukuman, dan tiada penghukum.
Unspecified narrator (context needed to confirm whether Pulastya → Bhīṣma or another dialogue frame)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: celestial_realm
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शूद्रास्तु = शूद्राः + तु; विप्रेंद्रा = विप्र + इन्द्राः; दंडो = दण्डः (visarga sandhi before n-);
FAQs
It describes an idealized community where people are naturally dharmic, so there is no need for a king, coercive punishment (daṇḍa), or an enforcer (daṇḍika).
Not necessarily; it portrays a specific place or community as exceptionally virtuous, implying that governance by punishment becomes unnecessary when conduct is self-regulated by dharma.
In this verse, “Mallakas” appears as a proper designation for a group/people; without additional surrounding verses, it is best read as a named community characterized here by righteous conduct.