Shloka 36

Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद

Devanagari script

व्यवस्थापयति क्षिप्रमिमं लोक॑ नरेश्वर । सत्ये व्यवस्थितो धर्मों ब्राह्म॒णेष्ववतिष्ठते

Transliteration

vyavasthāpayati kṣipram imaṁ lokaṁ nareśvara | satye vyavasthito dharmo brāhmaṇeṣv avatiṣṭhate nareśvara ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: Tâu Đại vương, daṇḍa (quyền lực cưỡng chế của nhà vua) nhanh chóng đưa thế gian vào trật tự đúng đắn. Dharma chỉ đứng vững khi đặt nền trên chân thật; và dharma ấy, đến lượt mình, có chỗ an trú nơi các Bà-la-môn.

Word by Word

• व्यवस्थापयति: establishes, sets in order
• व्यवस्थापयति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्यवस्था + √पि (पाय्/पा) (causative: स्थापयति)
• Form: Lat, Present, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• लोकम्: world
• लोकम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + ईश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• सत्ये: in truth
• सत्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• व्यवस्थितः: is established, stands firm
• व्यवस्थितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + अव + √स्था (व्यवस्था) (ppp: व्यवस्थित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ब्राह्मणेषु: among/in the Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अवतिष्ठते: abides, remains
• अवतिष्ठते: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √स्था
• Form: Lat, Present, 3, Singular, Atmanepada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• nareśvara (the king, addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma teaches that a king’s danda (law-enforcing power) is essential to quickly stabilize society, but its legitimacy depends on satya (truth). Dharma is secure only when rooted in truth, and it is preserved and articulated through the Brahmanas as custodians of sacred learning and moral norms.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship and peace, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhishthira) and explains how governance works: coercive authority maintains order, yet it must be aligned with truth and dharma, which are traditionally upheld by learned Brahmanas.