Shloka 49
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
ईश्वरने यत्नपूर्वक धर्मरक्षाके लिये क्षत्रियके हाथमें उसके समान जातिवाला दण्ड समर्पित किया है; इसलिये दण्ड ही इस सनातन व्यवहारका कारण है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | īśvareṇa yatnapūrvakaṁ dharmarakṣāyai kṣatriyasya haste tasya samānajātīyo daṇḍaḥ samarpitaḥ; tasmād daṇḍa eva asya sanātanavyavahārasya kāraṇam || rājñāṁ pūjyatamo nānyo yathā dharmaḥ pradarśitaḥ | brahmaṇā lokarakṣārthaṁ svadharmasthāpanāya ca ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Ang Panginoon, sa maingat na pagsisikap na pangalagaan ang dharma, ay naglagay sa kamay ng Kshatriya ng pamalo ng kaparusahan—ang daṇḍa—na kauri ng kanyang kalagayan at angkop sa kanyang antas. Kaya ang daṇḍa, ang kapangyarihang pumigil at magwasto, ang nagiging sanhi ng walang-kupas na kaayusan ng asal at gawi sa lipunan. Para sa mga hari, wala nang tungkuling higit na dapat igalang kaysa rito: ang dharmang ipinakita ni Brahmā upang pangalagaan ang daigdig at itatag ang bawat nilalang sa nararapat niyang tungkulin—ang matuwid na paggamit ng daṇḍa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Righteous punishment (daṇḍa) is a sacred instrument entrusted to rulers to protect dharma and maintain the enduring order of society; for kings, no duty is more venerable than exercising this power justly for the world’s protection and the establishment of svadharma.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on statecraft and ethics, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira that governance requires disciplined enforcement: the divine order authorizes Kṣatriyas to wield daṇḍa so that society’s norms and duties remain stable and protected.