Shloka 5
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
राजदण्डभयादेके पापा: पापं न कुर्वते । यमदण्डभयादेके परलोकभयादपि
rājadaṇḍabhayād eke pāpāḥ pāpaṃ na kurvate | yamadaṇḍabhayād eke paralokabhayād api |
Arjuna disse: “Alguns pecadores deixam de pecar por medo do castigo do rei; outros por medo do bastão de Yama; e outros ainda por medo do mundo vindouro. Tal é a condição natural do mundo—por isso tudo se mantém estabelecido sobre o daṇḍa, como força reguladora.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral restraint in society often arises not from inner virtue alone but from fear of consequences—state punishment, divine/judicial retribution (Yama), and the results in the afterlife. Hence daṇḍa (sanctioning power) is presented as a foundational support for social order.
Arjuna is speaking within the Shanti Parva’s discussions on governance and dharma, pointing out that many people avoid wrongdoing primarily due to fear of punishment and post-mortem consequences, underscoring the practical necessity of daṇḍa in maintaining order.