Shloka 77
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
यदि राजा दण्डनीतिका उत्तम रीतिसे प्रयोग करे तो वह चारों वर्णोकी अपने-अपने धर्ममें बलपूर्वक लगाती है और उन्हें अधर्मकी ओर जानेसे रोक देती है ।।
cāturvarṇye svakarmasthe maryādānām asaṅkare | daṇḍanītikṛte kṣeme prajānām akuto bhaye ||
毗湿摩说道：若国王以最善之法施行“檀陀尼提”（daṇḍanīti，刑政与治国之学），便能以威力使四姓（四种社会阶序）各安其职、各守其法，并阻止他们趋向非义。由檀陀尼提之效，当四姓皆勤于本分之业，而法（dharma）的界限不致混淆时，百姓便安居乐业——四方无惧，且得兴盛。于此情形之下，三种“再生者”（dvija）亦依正法致力于护持健康与安宁。啊，尤狄施提罗，人间之乐即寓于此；你当明了。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Good governance (daṇḍanīti) is meant to secure dharma by keeping people established in their proper duties, preventing social and moral confusion, and thereby creating public fearlessness and welfare; this stable order is presented as a basis for human happiness.
In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on statecraft and dharma, Bhīṣma addresses Yudhiṣṭhira, explaining how a king’s proper use of punishment and policy maintains social order (cāturvarṇya in svakarma), prevents dharma-boundaries from collapsing, and ensures the people’s security and prosperity.