Shloka 30
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
सम्यग्दण्डधरो नित्यं राजा धर्ममवाप्नुयात् । नृपस्य सततं दण्ड: सम्यग् धर्म: प्रशस्थते,भलीभाँति दण्ड धारण करनेवाला राजा सदा धर्मका भागी होता है। निरन्तर दण्ड धारण किये रहना राजाके लिये उत्तम धर्म मानकर उसकी प्रशंसा की जाती है
bhīṣma uvāca |
samyag-daṇḍadharo nityaṁ rājā dharmam avāpnuyāt |
nṛpasya satataṁ daṇḍaḥ samyag dharmaḥ praśasyate ||
सम्यग्दण्डधरो नित्यं राजा धर्ममवाप्नुयात्। नृपस्य सततं दण्डः सम्यग् धर्मः प्रशस्यते॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Just governance requires the king to uphold daṇḍa (punishment/discipline) correctly and consistently; when punishment is administered fairly, it becomes a form of dharma that protects society and enables righteousness to flourish.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma teaches principles of rajadharma, emphasizing that a ruler’s steady, properly applied punitive authority is essential for maintaining order and is therefore praised as righteous conduct.