Shloka 27
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
यदा निवर्त्यते पापो दण्डनीत्या महात्मभि: । तदा धर्मो न चलते सद्भूतः शाश्वत: पर:
yadā nivartyate pāpo daṇḍanītyā mahātmabhiḥ | tadā dharmo na calate sadbhūtaḥ śāśvataḥ paraḥ ||
Indra disse: “Quando os perversos são contidos de praticar o mal por meio da reta política de punição sustentada por governantes de grande alma, então o Dharma —verdadeiro em sua própria natureza, eterno e supremo— não vacila nem declina.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma remains stable in society when rulers (or noble authorities) actively restrain wrongdoing through daṇḍanīti—just, principled punishment and enforcement. Ethical order is protected not only by personal virtue but also by fair governance.
Indra is speaking within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājanīti (royal duty and statecraft), explaining that when great-souled rulers prevent sinners from committing sin through disciplined punishment-policy, the supreme and eternal Dharma does not decline.