Shloka 42
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
न प्रेष्या वचन कुर्युर्न बाला जातु कर्हिचित् | न तिछेद् युवती धर्मे यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्
na preṣyā vacanaṁ kuryur na bālā jātu karhicit | na tiṣṭhed yuvatī dharme yadi daṇḍo na pālayet ||
“Kapag hindi pinanghahawakan ang kapangyarihan ng pamamahala at parusa (daṇḍa), hindi susunod ang mga alipin sa utos ng kanilang panginoon; hindi kailanman tatalima ang mga bata sa kanilang mga magulang; at ang isang dalagang babae ay hindi mananatiling matatag sa kanyang dharma. Ipinahihiwatig ng taludtod na ang kaayusang panlipunan at moral ay nakasalalay sa tuloy-tuloy na pagpapanatili ng makatarungang disiplina.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma in society is sustained by daṇḍa—effective, consistent enforcement of rightful authority. Without it, obedience collapses across relationships (servant–master, child–parent, and household moral discipline), leading to disorder.
Within the Shanti Parva’s discussions on rājadharma (the duties of rule), the speaker presents a reasoning chain: if governance and punishment are not maintained, basic social bonds and duties fail. It is an argument for the necessity of disciplined administration to protect dharma.