Shloka 52

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

एवं पर्याकुले लोके वितथैर्जर्जरीकृते । तैस्तैन्ययिर्महाराज पुराणं धर्ममाचर

Transliteration

evaṁ paryākule loke vitathair jarjarīkṛte | tais tair nyāyair mahārāja purāṇaṁ dharmam ācara ||

Translation

மகாராஜா! இவ்வாறு உலகமெங்கும் பொய்யான நடத்தைகளால் கலங்கிப் போய், தண்டனைகளால் சிதைந்து போயுள்ளது. ஆகவே, அந்தந்த நீதிநெறிகளைப் பின்பற்றி பழம்பெரும் தர்மத்தை நீங்கள் கடைப்பிடியுங்கள்।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• पर्याकुले: in (a state of) confusion/agitation
• पर्याकुले: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर्याकुल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वितथैः: by false (things/acts), by untruths
• वितथैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वितथ
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• जर्जरीकृते: made shattered/ruined
• जर्जरीकृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जर्जरीकृत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• तैः: by those (respective)
• तैः: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• न्यायैः: by rules/ways/precedents
• न्यायैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्याय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पुराणम्: ancient, old
• पुराणम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुराण
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धर्मम्: dharma, righteous conduct
• धर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आचर: practice, follow
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चर्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाराज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• mahārāja (the king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In a society destabilized by falsehood and corrupt practice, a ruler should re-establish order by adhering to sound principles of justice (nyāya) and by practicing the time-tested, ancient dharma rather than improvising expedient but unethical measures.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker addresses a great king and urges him to respond to a world thrown into turmoil by deceit: the remedy proposed is governance grounded in nyāya and the restoration of purāṇa-dharma (the old, authoritative moral order).