Shloka 35

Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद

Devanagari script

दण्डेन रक्ष्यमाणा हि राजन्नहरह: प्रजा: । राजानं वर्धयन्तीह तस्माद्‌ दण्ड: परायणम्‌

Transliteration

daṇḍena rakṣyamāṇā hi rājan aharahaḥ prajāḥ | rājānaṁ vardhayantīha tasmād daṇḍaḥ parāyaṇam, rājan ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ରାଜନ! ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦ୍ୱାରା ଦିନକୁ ଦିନ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରହୁଥିବା ପ୍ରଜା ହିଁ ଏହି ଲୋକରେ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ହୋଇ ଧନ-ଧାନ୍ୟ ଓ ସହାୟତାରେ ରାଜାଙ୍କୁ ନିରନ୍ତର ବୃଦ୍ଧି କରେ। ତେଣୁ ଦଣ୍ଡ ହିଁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କର ପରମ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ଓ ଆଧାର।

Word by Word

• दण्डेन: by punishment/rod (authority)
• दण्डेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• रक्ष्यमाणाः: being protected
• रक्ष्यमाणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural, शानच् (present passive participle)

• हि: indeed/for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अहरहः: day by day
• अहरहः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहरहः

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वर्धयन्ति: increase/prosper (make flourish)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध्
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• इह: here/in this world
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (तद्)

• दण्डः: punishment/rod (sovereign authority)
• दण्डः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• परायणम्: refuge/ultimate resort
• Type: Noun
• Root: परायण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• the king (rājan)
• prajā (the subjects/people)
• daṇḍa (punitive authority/law)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king’s foremost duty is to protect society through just enforcement (daṇḍa). When law and punishment restrain wrongdoing, the people flourish and naturally sustain the kingdom; thus daṇḍa is presented as the essential support of governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and explains why the ruler must maintain order: protected subjects prosper and thereby enrich and strengthen the ruler and the realm.