Shloka 4

Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)

Devanagari script

दण्डेन रक्ष्यते धान्यं धनं दण्डेन रक्ष्यते । एवं विद्वानुपाधत्स्व भावं पश्यस्व लौकिकम्‌

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | daṇḍena rakṣyate dhānyaṃ dhanaṃ daṇḍena rakṣyate | evaṃ vidvān upādhatsva bhāvaṃ paśyasva laukikam ||

Translation

阿周那说道：“凭惩罚之杖，五谷得以保全；凭同一刑威，财货亦得以守护。既知如此，汝亦当执掌刑权，观照世间行事之实况。”

Word by Word

• दण्डेन: by punishment/rod
• दण्डेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• रक्ष्यते: is protected
• रक्ष्यते: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• धान्यम्: grain
• धान्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• धनम्: wealth
• धनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• दण्डेन: by punishment/rod
• दण्डेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• रक्ष्यते: is protected
• रक्ष्यते: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष्
• Form: Present, Passive, Third, Singular

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• विद्वान्: a wise man
• विद्वान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्वस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उपाधत्स्व: take up/assume
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-धा
• Form: Imperative, Parasmaipada, Second, Singular

• भावम्: attitude/state (policy)
• भावम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पश्यस्व: see/consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्
• Form: Imperative, Atmanepada, Second, Singular

• लौकिकम्: worldly (practice)
• लौकिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• daṇḍa (royal punishment/authority)
• dhānya (grain)
• dhana (wealth)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Legitimate authority and the capacity to punish wrongdoing (daṇḍa) are presented as necessary instruments for protecting society’s essentials—food supply and wealth—thereby sustaining order and dharma in practical life.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna urges the addressed authority figure to adopt a firm, worldly-realistic stance: to wield daṇḍa as a ruler would, because without enforcement, protection of resources and social stability cannot be maintained.