Shloka 15
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
वसुहोम बोले--राजन्! दण्ड सम्पूर्ण जगत्के नियमके अंदर रखनेवाला है। यह धर्मका सनातन स्वरूप है। इसका उद्देश्य है प्रजाको उद्दण्डतासे बचाना। इसकी उत्पत्ति जिस तरहसे हुई है, सो बता रहा हूँ; सुनो ।।
Vasuharomā uvāca—rājan! daṇḍaḥ sampūrṇaṁ jagad niyamasya antargataṁ dhārayati. eṣa dharmasya sanātanaḥ svarūpaḥ. asya prayojanaṁ prajāṁ auddaṇḍyāt rakṣitum. asya utpattiḥ yathābhūtā mayā te kathyate; śṛṇu. brahmā yiyakṣuḥ bhagavān sarvalokapitāmahaḥ, ṛtvijaṁ nātmanas tulyaṁ dadarśa—iti hi naḥ śrutam.
Vasuharoma disse: “Ó rei, o daṇḍa é o que mantém o mundo inteiro dentro dos limites da ordem. Esta é a forma eterna do dharma, destinada a proteger o povo da ausência de lei e da arrogância. Agora te direi como ele se originou — escuta. Ouvimos dizer que, certa vez, o bem-aventurado Brahmā, o Pitāmaha de todos os mundos, desejou realizar um sacrifício (yajña), mas não encontrou um sacerdote oficiante (ṛtvij) à sua altura.”
वसुहरोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Daṇḍa (punitive authority) is presented as an eternal instrument of dharma that maintains social and cosmic order by restraining unruliness; its ethical aim is protection of the people rather than mere retribution.
Vasuharoma begins explaining the origin and purpose of daṇḍa to the king, introducing a traditional account in which Brahmā wishes to perform a sacrifice but cannot find an officiating priest equal to himself—setting up the ensuing origin-story.