Shloka 25
मोक्षोपाय-निर्णयः
Determination of the Means to Liberation
वित्रास्यमाना: सुकृतो न कामादधघ्नन्ति दुष्कृतीन् । सुकृतेनैव राजानो भूयिष्ठं शासते प्रजा:
vitrāsyamānāḥ sukṛto na kāmād adhaghnanti duṣkṛtīn | sukṛtenaiva rājāno bhūyiṣṭhaṃ śāsate prajāḥ ||
Sinabi ni Humatsena: “Kapag nadarama ng mga tao ang takot sa parusa, napapaling sila sa mabuting asal; kaya ang layon ng parusa ay itanim ang dharma sa pamamagitan ng pagpigil at paghadlang, hindi ang pumatay. Hindi pumapatay ang mga hari sa masasama dahil lamang sa pansariling pagnanasa. Ang pinakamahuhusay na pinuno, sa karamihan, ay namamahala nang matagal sa pamamagitan ng mismong kabutihan—sa mabubuting gawa at wastong, sibilisadong pag-uugali.”
हुमत्सेन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment (daṇḍa) is primarily a tool of deterrence meant to generate fear that turns people toward righteous conduct; it is not meant for cruelty or killing driven by a ruler’s personal desire. Ideal kings rule mainly through their own virtue and good governance rather than frequent violent penalties.
In the Shanti Parva’s discourse on rājadharma, Humatsena explains the ethical rationale behind royal punishment: fear of penalty reforms behavior, so the king’s aim should be moral order and long-term stability, achieved chiefly through good conduct and just administration rather than arbitrary executions.