Shloka 24
Vyavahāra-Śuddhi and Rājadharma: Clean Administration, Counsel, and Proportional Punishment
Chapter 86
प्रजानाथ! जो भलीभाँति विचार करके अपराधीको उचित दण्ड देता है और अपने कर्त्तव्यपालनके लिये सदा उद्यत रहता है, उस राजाको वध और बन्धनका पाप नहीं लगता, अपितु उसे सनातन धर्मकी ही प्राप्ति होती है ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | prajānātha! yo bhalībhāṃti vicāra karke aparādhīko ucita daṇḍa detā hai aura apane kartavyapālanake liye sadā udyata rahatā hai, usa rājāko vadha aura bandhanakā pāpa nahīṃ lagtā, apitu use sanātana dharmakī hī prāpti hotī hai || kāmakāreṇa daṇḍaṃ tu yaḥ kuryād avicakṣaṇaḥ | sa ihākīrtisaṃyukto mṛto narakam ṛcchati ||
毗湿摩说道：“人民之主啊！君王若深思熟虑，对罪人施以相称之罚，并恒常警醒以尽王者之职，则不染杀戮与拘系之罪；反而得至永恒之正法（dharma）。但愚昧的统治者若不加辨别、仅凭任性施罚，今世必蒙恶名；死后更堕地狱。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Punishment is morally legitimate for a king only when it is proportionate, directed at the guilty, and imposed after careful deliberation as part of rajadharma. Arbitrary, desire-driven punishment brings disgrace in life and severe karmic retribution after death.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on kingship, Bhishma advises the ruler on the ethical use of daṇḍa (royal punishment). He contrasts righteous, duty-bound governance with capricious rule, explaining the differing moral and posthumous outcomes.