Shloka 8
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
नित्यमुद्यतदण्डस्य भृशमुद्विजते नर: । तस्मात् सर्वाणि भूतानि दण्डेनैव प्रसाधयेत्
nityam udyatadaṇḍasya bhṛśam udvijate naraḥ | tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni daṇḍenaiva prasādhayet ||
毗湿摩曰：恒常蓄势以施刑杖者，为民众所深惧。故当以刑杖使万类归于秩序——即以严整而具权威之 danda 作为治国之器。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes the political-ethical role of daṇḍa: fear of punishment restrains wrongdoing, so a ruler maintains order by applying disciplined coercive authority. The verse highlights deterrence and regulation as essential tools of rāja-dharma.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rāja-dharma, Bhishma is advising Yudhishthira on principles of kingship and social control, explaining how subjects respond to a ruler who is constantly ready to punish and why governance relies on daṇḍa to keep society orderly.