Shloka 8

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

यस्माददान्तान्‌ दमयत्यशिष्टान्‌ दण्डयत्यपि । दमनादू दण्डनाच्चैव तस्मादू दण्डं विदुर्बुधा:

Transliteration

yasmād adāntān damayaty aśiṣṭān daṇḍayaty api | damanād daṇḍanāc caiva tasmād daṇḍaṁ vidur budhāḥ ||

Translation

Sapagkat pinipigil nito ang mga walang pagpipigil at pinarurusahan ang mga suwail; sapagkat ito’y kapwa nagdidisiplina at nagpaparusa, kaya’t kinikilala ito ng marurunong sa pangalang “daṇḍa” (tungkod ng kapangyarihan at parusa).

Word by Word

• यस्मात्: from which/because of which
• यस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, ablative, singular

• अदान्तान्: the unrestrained/undisciplined
• अदान्तान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदान्त (a-dānta)
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• दमयति: restrains/tames
• दमयति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दम्
• Form: present, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• अशिष्टान्: the unruly/ill-mannered
• अशिष्टान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशिष्ट
• Form: masculine, accusative, plural

• दण्डयति: punishes
• दण्डयति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दण्डय् (दण्डयति)
• Form: present, 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• अपि: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• दमनात्: from restraint/disciplining
• दमनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमन
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

• दण्डनात्: from punishment/chastisement
• दण्डनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डन
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: masculine/neuter, ablative, singular

• दण्डम्: punishment/rod (as authority)
• दण्डम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• विदुः: know/consider
• विदुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: perfect, 3rd, plural, parasmaipada

• बुधाः: the wise (men)
• बुधाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• daṇḍa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse defines daṇḍa (coercive authority/punishment) by its function: it disciplines the undisciplined and punishes wrongdoers, thereby upholding dharma and social order.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s discussion on rājadharma (the duties of rulership), the speaker explains why the instrument/principle of punishment is called daṇḍa—because it both restrains and chastises those who deviate from proper conduct.