Shloka 1

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

भीकम (2 अमान पजञ्चदशो< ध्याय: अर्जुनके द्वारा राजदण्डकी महत्ताका वर्णन वैशम्पायन उवाच याज्ञसेन्या वच:ः श्रुत्वा पुनरेवार्जुनो5ब्रवीत्‌ । अनुमान्य महाबाहुं ज्येष्ठ भ्रातरमच्युतम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | yājñasenyā vacaḥ śrutvā punar evārjuno 'bravīt | anumānya mahābāhuṁ jyeṣṭha-bhrātaram acyutam |

Translation

Disse Vaiśampāyana: Tendo ouvido as palavras de Yājñasenī (Draupadī), Arjuna tornou a falar. Prestando a devida honra ao seu irmão mais velho—o de braços poderosos, inabalável na correção—dirigiu-se a ele, situando sua resposta nas exigências do dharma e do dever régio.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनः: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular

• याज्ञसेन्याः: of Yājñasenī (Draupadī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्ञसेनी
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive), Parasmaipada (usage)

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू
• Form: Imperfect, 3rd, Singular

• अनुमान्य: having assented to / having approved / having honored
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + मन्
• Form: ल्यप् (gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• महाबाहुम्: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ज्येष्ठम्: the eldest
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्येष्ठ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भ्रातरम्: brother
• भ्रातरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Yājñasenī (Draupadī)
• Arjuna
• Yudhiṣṭhira (implied as the elder brother)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical discourse through proper relational conduct: even when responding to a provocative or urgent appeal (Draupadī’s words), Arjuna proceeds by honoring the elder brother-king, implying that counsel on power and punishment (daṇḍa) must be grounded in respect, hierarchy, and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

After hearing Draupadī’s statement, Arjuna resumes speaking. The narrator notes that Arjuna first shows due respect to his elder brother Yudhiṣṭhira—described as mighty and steadfast in propriety—before continuing his argument (in this chapter, connected with the greatness of royal punishment/authority).