Shloka 42
Daṇḍa as the Foundation of Social Order (दण्डप्रतिष्ठा)
न प्रेष्या वचन कुर्युर्न बाला जातु कर्हिचित् | न तिछेद् युवती धर्मे यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्
na preṣyā vacanaṁ kuryur na bālā jātu karhicit | na tiṣṭhed yuvatī dharme yadi daṇḍo na pālayet ||
“若不维持治理与惩罚之权（daṇḍa），仆从便不奉行主人的命令；孩童也决不听从父母；年轻女子亦不能安住于自身之法（dharma）。此偈申明：社会与道德秩序，系于对合法纪律的恒常维护。”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma in society is sustained by daṇḍa—effective, consistent enforcement of rightful authority. Without it, obedience collapses across relationships (servant–master, child–parent, and household moral discipline), leading to disorder.
Within the Shanti Parva’s discussions on rājadharma (the duties of rule), the speaker presents a reasoning chain: if governance and punishment are not maintained, basic social bonds and duties fail. It is an argument for the necessity of disciplined administration to protect dharma.