Shloka 8
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
यस्माददान्तान् दमयत्यशिष्टान् दण्डयत्यपि । दमनादू दण्डनाच्चैव तस्मादू दण्डं विदुर्बुधा:
yasmād adāntān damayaty aśiṣṭān daṇḍayaty api | damanād daṇḍanāc caiva tasmād daṇḍaṁ vidur budhāḥ ||
Porque refreia os indomados e também pune os insubmissos, e porque ao mesmo tempo disciplina e castiga, os sábios o conhecem pelo nome “daṇḍa” (a vara da autoridade e da punição).
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines daṇḍa (coercive authority/punishment) by its function: it disciplines the undisciplined and punishes wrongdoers, thereby upholding dharma and social order.
In the Śānti Parva’s discussion on rājadharma (the duties of rulership), the speaker explains why the instrument/principle of punishment is called daṇḍa—because it both restrains and chastises those who deviate from proper conduct.