Shloka 121
त्रिवर्गमूलनिश्चयः — Determining the Roots of Dharma, Artha, and Kāma
Mahābhārata, Śānti-parva 123
इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत शान्तिपर्वके अन्तर्गत राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वमें दण्डके स्वरूपका वर्णनविषयक एक सौ इकक््कीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraḥ śrīmahābhārate śāntiparvaṇi antar-gate rājadharmānuśāsanaparvaṇi daṇḍasya svarūpasya varṇanaviṣayakaḥ ekaśata-ekaviṃśatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ samāptaḥ
इति श्रीमहाभारते शान्तिपर्वणि राजधर्मानुशासनपर्वणि दण्डस्वरूपवर्णने एकविंशत्यधिकशततमोऽध्यायः समाप्तः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The chapter’s framing emphasizes that danda—state coercion and punishment—must be understood in its proper nature and applied as an instrument of dharma: to protect society, restrain wrongdoing, and sustain order, rather than to serve personal anger or arbitrary power.
This is a colophon-style closing line marking the end of a chapter in Bhishma’s discourse within the Shanti Parva. It identifies the location (Shanti Parva, Rajadharmanushasana section) and the topic (the nature of danda), indicating that the instructional unit has concluded.