Shloka 60
Daṇḍotpatti-kathana (Origin and Function of Daṇḍa) — वसुहोम–मान्धातृ संवाद
माता पिता च भ्राता च भार्या चैव पुरोहित: । नादण्ड्यो विद्यते राज्ञो यः स्वधर्मे न तिष्ठति
mātā pitā ca bhrātā ca bhāryā caiva purohitaḥ | nādaṇḍyo vidyate rājño yaḥ svadharme na tiṣṭhati ||
毗湿摩说道：对国王而言，无人可免于刑罚——无论母、父、兄弟、妻子，乃至王家祭司——只要其人不安住于自身之法（达摩）。君主之公正当护持达摩：使众人皆负其责，即便至亲与最受敬仰者，一旦偏离正行，亦当受裁。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s duty is impartial justice: no relationship or status—family ties or priestly authority—creates immunity if a person abandons svadharma. Upholding dharma requires equal accountability.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on rājadharma, Bhīṣma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira principles of governance. Here he emphasizes that the ruler must punish wrongdoing even among the closest relatives and the purohita when they deviate from their duties.