Shloka 28
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
अन्तश्नादिश्व मध्यं च कृत्यानां च प्रपठडचनम् | मद: प्रमादो दर्पश्ष दम्भो धैर्य नयानयौ
bhīṣma uvāca | antaḥśnādiś ca madhyaṃ ca kṛtyānāṃ ca prapaṭhaḍacanam | madaḥ pramādo darpaś ca dambho dhairyaṃ nayānayau |
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଅନ୍ତଃ, ଆଦି ଓ ମଧ୍ୟ; ଏବଂ କୃତ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କର ବିସ୍ତାର; ମଦ, ପ୍ରମାଦ, ଦର୍ପ, ଦମ୍ଭ, ଧୈର୍ଯ୍ୟ—ତଥା ନୀତି ଓ ଅନୀତି—ଏସବୁ, ଏବଂ ଏପରି ଅସଂଖ୍ୟ ବିରୋଧୀ ଯୁଗଳ, ଦଣ୍ଡର ହିଁ ଅନେକ ନାମ ଓ ରୂପ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ। ହେ କୁରୁଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ଏହିପରି ଏ ଜଗତରେ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଅନେକ ପ୍ରକାରେ ପ୍ରକଟ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Daṇḍa (restraint/punitive authority) is not a single act but a broad governing principle that manifests through many conditions and opposites—virtue and vice, prudence and folly, strength and weakness—shaping social order and personal conduct.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma continues advising Yudhiṣṭhira, explaining that the ruler’s instrument of order (daṇḍa) has many forms and is reflected in diverse human qualities and outcomes.