Shloka 69

Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

अदण्ड्यत्वं च विप्राणां युक्त्या दण्डनिपातनम्‌ | अनुजीविस्वजातिभ्यो गुणेभ्यश्व समुद्भधव:ः

Transliteration

adaṇḍyatvaṃ ca viprāṇāṃ yuktyā daṇḍanipātanam | anujīvisvajātibhyo guṇebhyaś ca samudbhavaḥ ||

Translation

ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਉਸ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਹ-ਦੰਡ ਨਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ; ਅਪਰਾਧੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਤਰਕ ਅਤੇ ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਦੰਡ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇ; ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਸ਼੍ਰਿਤਾਂ, ਆਪਣੀ ਹੀ ਜਾਤਿ-ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਣਵਾਨ ਪੁਰਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਭਲਾਈ ਤੇ ਉੱਨਤੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇ।

Word by Word

• अदण्ड्यत्वम्: non-punishability (immunity from punishment)
• अदण्ड्यत्वम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदण्ड्यत्व (दण्ड्य + त्व; दण्ड्य < दण्ड्)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विप्राणाम्: of Brahmins
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• युक्त्या: by reasoning; with proper method
• युक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• दण्डनिपातनम्: infliction of punishment
• दण्डनिपातनम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड-निपातन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अनुजीविस्वजातिभ्यः: from dependents and one’s own kinsmen/caste-fellows
• अनुजीविस्वजातिभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुजीवि-स्वजाति
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• गुणेभ्यः: from virtues; from good qualities
• गुणेभ्यः: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• समुद्भवः: arising; prosperity; uplift
• समुद्भवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्भव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Brahmins (vipra)
• offenders (implicit)
• dependents (anujīvi)
• one’s own community (svajāti)
• virtuous persons (guṇavat, implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Punishment (daṇḍa) must be applied with discernment and justice: Brahmins are traditionally exempt from corporal chastisement, while wrongdoers should be punished through reasoned, lawful procedure; additionally, a ruler should actively foster the prosperity of dependents, one’s own community, and the virtuous.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and social order, Bhishma continues advising Yudhishthira on how a ruler should administer punishment and protect society—balancing restraint toward Brahmins with firm, rational discipline for offenders and promoting the welfare of those under the ruler’s care.