Shloka 44
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
न तत्र कूटं पापं वा वज्चना वापि दृश्यते । यत्र दण्ड: सुविहितश्चरत्यरिविनाशन:,जहाँ शत्रुओंका विनाश करनेवाला दण्ड सुन्दर ढंगसे संचालित हो रहा है, वहाँ छल, पाप और ठगी भी नहीं देखनेमें आती है
na tatra kūṭaṃ pāpaṃ vā vañcanā vāpi dṛśyate | yatra daṇḍaḥ suvihitaś caraty arivināśanaḥ ||
“Sa kahariang pinaiiral ang daṇḍa—na maayos na itinatag at wastong ipinapatupad—na kumikilos bilang tagapuksa ng mga kaaway, hindi makikita roon ang panlilinlang, kasalanan, o pandaraya. Sa gayong lupain, ang disiplinadong paggamit ng kapangyarihan ay pumipigil sa kasamaan at nagtatanggol sa kaayusang moral.”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Properly established and impartially enforced punishment (daṇḍa) prevents social evils: when authority functions rightly, deceit, sin, and fraud diminish, supporting dharma and public trust.
Arjuna states an observation about governance: in a polity where the king’s punitive power is well administered and effectively checks hostile forces, moral corruption such as cheating and wrongdoing is not seen to flourish.