Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
भर्तप्रत्यय उत्पन्नो व्यवहारस्तथापर: । तस्माद् यः स हितो दृष्टो भर्तप्रत्ययलक्षण:
bhartapratyaya utpanno vyavahāras tathāparaḥ | tasmād yaḥ sa hito dṛṣṭo bhartapratyayalakṣaṇaḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: May isang uri rin ng paglilitis na nagmumula sa pagtitiwalang ibinibigay sa isang panginoon (o awtoridad), at ito’y naiiba sa pamamaraang nagmumula sa pagtatalo ng nagsasakdal at nasasakdal. Kaya ang kaparusahan o pasyang ibinibigay batay sa gayong pag-asa at pagtitiwala—na tinatawag na uring “bhartapratyaya”—ay itinuturing na kapaki-pakinabang sa ikabubuti ng buong daigdig.
भीष्म उवाच
Bhishma distinguishes a type of judicial action grounded in reliance on a recognized authority (a master/guardian/sovereign) from litigation born of mutual dispute, and affirms that decisions/punishments based on such authoritative trust can serve the common welfare when properly applied.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on dharma and governance, Bhishma is explaining classifications of vyavahāra (legal/judicial procedure) to Yudhishthira, describing how certain cases arise not from a formal contest between parties but from trust in an authority’s standing, leading to a distinct kind of adjudication and penalty.