Shloka 54
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
यश्न वेदप्रसूतात्मा स धर्मो गुणदर्शन: । धर्मप्रत्यय उद्दिष्टो यथाधर्म कृतात्मभि:
yaś ca vedaprasūtātmā sa dharmo guṇadarśanaḥ | dharmapratyaya uddiṣṭo yathādharma kṛtātmabhiḥ ||
भीष्म उवाच—यस्यात्मा वेदप्रसूतः स धर्म इति कथ्यते। स धर्मो गुणदर्शनः, स्वफलप्रकाशकः। तस्मात् पुण्यकृतात्मभिः धर्मप्रत्ययमूलो दण्डो यथाधर्मं प्रवर्तनीय इत्युद्दिष्टः॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is rooted in Vedic revelation and is self-validating through its visible fruits; hence social discipline and punishment should be grounded in dharmic conviction and applied strictly in accordance with Dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on righteous rule and conduct, Bhishma explains to Yudhishthira the basis of Dharma and why the wise prescribe danda (punishment) not as mere force but as a dharma-based instrument of order.