Shloka 27
Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
यदा निवर्त्यते पापो दण्डनीत्या महात्मभि: । तदा धर्मो न चलते सद्भूतः शाश्वत: पर:
yadā nivartyate pāpo daṇḍanītyā mahātmabhiḥ | tadā dharmo na calate sadbhūtaḥ śāśvataḥ paraḥ ||
Sinabi ni Indra: “Kapag ang masasama ay napipigil sa paggawa ng kasalanan sa pamamagitan ng matuwid na patakaran ng pagpaparusa na pinanghahawakan ng mga haring dakila ang loob, kung gayon ang Dharma—tunay sa likas nitong anyo, walang hanggan at kataas-taasan—ay hindi natitinag ni humihina.”
इन्द्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma remains stable in society when rulers (or noble authorities) actively restrain wrongdoing through daṇḍanīti—just, principled punishment and enforcement. Ethical order is protected not only by personal virtue but also by fair governance.
Indra is speaking within the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājanīti (royal duty and statecraft), explaining that when great-souled rulers prevent sinners from committing sin through disciplined punishment-policy, the supreme and eternal Dharma does not decline.