Shloka 10
The Origin of the Daṇḍaka Forest and Rāma’s Dharma-Judgment
Vulture vs. Owl
तस्माद्दण्डे महाबाहो यत्नवान्भव पुत्रक । धर्मस्ते परमो लोके कृत एवं भविष्यति
tasmāddaṇḍe mahābāho yatnavānbhava putraka | dharmaste paramo loke kṛta evaṃ bhaviṣyati
ஆகையால், ஓ வலிய தோளுடைய என் மகனே! நீதியான தண்டத்தைப் பயன்படுத்துவதில் முயற்சியுடன் இரு. இவ்வாறு நிலைபெற்றால் உன் தர்மமே உலகில் உச்சமாகும்—நிச்சயமாக அப்படியே ஆகும்.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa Adhyāya 37; a senior instructing a younger 'mahābāhu/putraka' figure on governance/discipline)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्माद्दण्डे = तस्मात् + दण्डे (त् + द् → द्द्); यत्नवान्भव = यत्नवान् + भव (न् + भ् → न्भ्); धर्मस्ते = धर्मः + ते (विसर्गसन्धि).
FAQs
It advises that discipline and punishment should be applied with effort and care as a tool to uphold dharma, not as cruelty—so that righteousness becomes firmly established in society.
It frames dharma as something that can be made effective in the world through conscientious enforcement of justice and order, implying responsibility in leadership and governance.
Be diligent and principled in maintaining justice; when discipline is aligned with dharma, one’s righteousness gains lasting authority and beneficial social impact.