वैशम्पायन उवाच याज्ञसेन्या वचः श्रुत्वा पुनरेवार्जुनोऽब्रवीत्। अनुमान्य महाबाहुं ज्येष्ठं भ्रातरमच्युतम्॥
Hearing these words of Yajnasena's daughter, Arjuna once more spoke, showing every respect for his mighty-armed and ever illustrious eldest brother.
अर्जुन उवाच दण्डः शास्ति प्रजाः सर्वा दण्ड एवाभिरक्षति। दण्डः सुप्तेषु जागर्ति दण्डं धर्म विदुर्बुधाः॥
Arjuna said (A king with) the rod of chastisement sways all subjects and protects them. The rod of chastisement is awake when all else is under sleep. For this, the wise have designated the rod of chastisement as Righteousness itself.
दण्डः संरक्षते धर्मं तथैवार्थ जनाधिप। कामं संरक्षते दण्डस्त्रिवर्गो दण्ड उच्यते॥
The rod of chastisement protects. Religion and Profit. It protects Pleasure also, O king! For this, the rod of chastisement is identified with the three-fold objects of life.
दण्डेन रक्ष्यते धान्यं धनं दण्डेन रक्ष्यते। एवं विद्वानुपाधत्स्व भावं पश्यस्व लौकिकम्॥
Corn and riches are both protected by the rod of chastisement. Knowing this, O learned king, take up the rod of chastisement and follow the ways of the world!
राजदण्डभयादेके पापाः पापं न कुर्वते। यमदण्डभयादेके परलोकभयादपि॥
One class of wicked men refrain from committing sins through fear of the rod of chastisement in the king's hands. Another section desist from similar acts out of fear of Yama's rod, and another from fear of the next world.
परस्परभयादेके पापाः पापं न कुर्वते। एवं सांसिद्धिके लोके सर्वं दण्डे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
Another class of persons refrain from committing sinful acts through fear of society. Thus, O king, in this world, everything depends on the rod of chastisement.
दण्डस्यैव भयादेके न खादन्ति परस्परम्। अन्धे तमसि मज्जेयुर्यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्॥
There are persons who are checked by only the rod of chastisement from devouring one another. If the rod of chastisement did not protect people, they would have been immersed in the darkness of hell.
यस्माददान्तान् दमयत्यशिष्टान् दण्डयत्यपि। दमनाद् दण्डनाच्चैव तस्माद् दण्डं विदुर्बुधाः॥
The rod of chastisement (Danda) has been so designated by the wise, because it governs the ungovernable and punishes the wicked.
वाचा दण्डो ब्राह्मणानां क्षत्रियाणां भुजार्पणम्। दानदण्डाः स्मृता वैश्या निर्दण्डः शूद्र उच्यते॥
The chastisement should be meted to the Brahmanas by words only; to the Kshatriyas, by giving them only that much of food as would suffice for the up-keep of life; to the Vaishyas, by the imposition of fines and forfeitures of property, while for the Sudras there is no punishment.
असम्मोहाय मर्त्यानामर्थसंरक्षणाय च। मर्यादा स्थापिता लोके दण्डसंज्ञा विशाम्पते।॥
For compelling men to stick to their duties) and for the protection of property, punitive laws, O king, have been established in the world.
यत्र श्यामो लोहिताक्षो दण्डश्चरति सूद्यतः। प्रजास्तत्र न मुह्यन्ते नेता चेत् साधु पश्यति॥
The subjects never forget their duties, where Chastisement, of dark complexion and red eyes, stand ready (to grapple with every offender) and the king is of righteous vision.
ब्रह्मचारी गृहस्थश्च वानप्रस्थश्च भिक्षुकः। दण्डस्यैव भयादेते मनुष्या वर्त्मनि स्थिताः॥
The Brahmacharin and the householder, the hermit and the religious mendicant, all follow their respective duties through fear of chastisement only.
नाभीतो यजते राजन् नाभीतो दातुमिच्छति। नाभीतः पुरुषः कश्चित् समये स्थातुमिच्छति॥
He that is without any fear, O king, never celebrates a sacrifice. He that is without fear never gives away. The man that is without any fear never desires to satisfy and engagement or contract.
नाच्छित्त्वा परमर्माणि नाकृत्वा कर्म दुष्करम्। नाहत्वा मत्स्यघातीव प्राणोति महतीं श्रियम्॥
Without cutting the vital parts of others, without performing the most difficult deeds, and without killing creatures like a fisherman (slaying fish), no person can acquire great prosperity.
नाघ्नतः कीर्तिरस्तीह न वित्तं न पुनः प्रजाः। इन्द्रो वृत्रवधेनैव महेन्द्रः समपद्यत॥
Without slaughter no man has been able to acquire fame in this world or wealth or subjects. Indra himself, by killing Vritra, became the great Indra.
य एव देवा हन्तारस्ताँल्लोकोऽर्चयते भृशम्। हन्ता रुद्रस्तथा स्कन्दः शक्रोऽग्निवरुणो यमः॥
Those amongst the gods that are giving to killing others are worshipped much more by inen. Rudra, Skanda, Shakra, Agni, Varuna, are all destroyers.
हन्ता कालस्तथा वायुर्मुत्युर्वैश्रवणो रविः। वसवो मरुतः साध्या विश्वेदेवाश्च भारत॥
Kala and Mrityu and Vayu and Kubera and Surya, the Vasus, the Maruts, the Saddhyas and the Vishvedevas, O Bharata, are all destroyers.
एतान् देवान् नमस्यन्ति प्रतापप्रणता जनाः। न ब्रह्माणं न धातारं न पूषाणं कथंचना॥
Humiliated by their power, all people bow to these gods, but not to Brahmana or Dhatri or Pushan at any time.
मध्यस्थान् सर्वभूतेषु दान्ताशमपरायणान्। यजन्ते मानवाः केचित् प्रशान्ताः सर्वकर्मसु॥
Only a few noble-ininded men worship in all their acts those among the gods who treat all creatures equally and who are self-restrained and peaceful.
न हि पश्यामि जीवन्तं लोके कञ्चिदहिंसया। सत्त्वैः सत्त्वा हि जीवन्ति दुर्बलैर्बलवत्तराः॥
I do not see any such creature in this world that supports life without doing any act of injury to others. Animals live upon animals, the stronger upon the weaker.
नकुलो मूषिकानत्ति बिडालो नकुलं तथा। विडालमत्तिश्वा राजश्वानं व्यालमृगस्तथा॥
The mungoose eats up mice; the cat eats up inungoose; the dog eats up the cat; the dog again is devoured by the spotted leopard.
तानत्तिं पुरुषः सर्वान् पश्य कालो यथागतः। प्राणस्यान्नमिदं सर्वं जङ्गमं स्थावरं च यत्॥
Behold, all things again are eaten up by the Destroyer when he comes! This mobile and immobile universe is food for living creatures.
विधानं दैवविहितं तत्र विद्वान् न मुह्यति। यथा सृष्टोऽसि राजेन्द्र तथा भवितुमर्हसि॥
This has been ordained by the celestials. The learned man, therefore, is never stupefied at it. You should, O great king, become what you are by birth!
विनीतक्रोधहर्षा हि मन्दा वनमुपाश्रिताः। विना वधं न कुर्वन्ति तापसा: प्राणयापनम्॥
Only the foolish (Kshatriyas) controlling anger and joy, dwell in the woods. The very ascetics cannot maintain their lives without killing creatures.
उदके बहवः प्राणाः पृथिव्यां च फलेषु च। न च कश्चिन्न तान् हन्ति किमन्यत् प्राणयापनात्॥
Innumerable creature live in water, on earth and in fruits. It is not true that one does not kill them. What greater duty is there than supporting one's life?
सूक्ष्मयोनीनि भूतानि तर्कगम्यानि कानिचित्। पक्ष्मणोऽपि निपातेन येषां स्यात् स्कन्धपर्ययः॥
There are many creatures that are so ininute that their existence is not perceptible. The falling of the eyelids even kills them.
ग्रामान् निष्क्रम्य मुनयो विगतक्रोधमत्सराः। वने कुटुम्बधर्माणो दृश्यन्ते परिमोहिताः॥
There are men who controlling anger and pride love like ascetics and abandoning villages and towns repair to the forests. Coming there, those men become so stupefied that they live like householder again.
भूमि भित्त्वौषधीश्छित्त्वा वृक्षादीनण्डजान् पशून्। मनुष्यास्तन्वते यज्ञास्ते स्वर्ग प्राप्नुवन्ति च॥
Others living like householders and tilling the soil, uprooting herbs, cutting off trees and killing birds and animals celebrate sacrifices and at last attain to heaven.
दण्डनीत्यां प्रणीतायां सर्वे सिद्ध्यन्त्युपक्रमाः। कौन्तेय सर्वभूतानां तत्र मे नास्ति संशयः॥
O son of Kunti, I am sure that the acts of all creatures become successful only when the policy of chastisement is properly applied.
दण्डचेन्न भवेल्लोके विनश्येयुरिमाः प्रजाः। जले मत्स्यानिवाभक्ष्यन् दुर्बलान् बलवत्तराः॥
If chastisement were done away with in this word, creatures would soon be destroyed. Like fishes in the water, stronger animals devour the weaker.
सत्यं चेदं ब्रह्मणा पूर्वमुक्तं दण्डः प्रजा रक्षति साधु नीतः। पश्याग्नयश्च प्रतिशाम्य भीताः संतर्जिता दण्डभयाज्ज्वलन्ति॥
Formerly Brahman himself, said that chastisement, properly applied, maintains creatures. Behold, the very fires, when put out, blaze up again, in fright, when blown! This is owing to the fear of force.
अन्धं तम इवेदं स्यान्न प्राज्ञायत किंचना दण्डश्चेन्न भवेल्लोके विभजन साध्वसाधुनी॥
If there were no chastisement in the world differentiating the good from the evil, the whole world would have been covered with sheer darkness and all things would have been unsettled.
येऽपि सम्भिन्नमर्यादा नास्तिका वेदनिन्दकाः। तेऽपि भोगाय कल्पन्ते दण्डेनाशु निपीडिताः॥
By chastisement the violators of laws, the atheists and scoffers of the Vedas, soon become disposed to observe rules and regulations.
सर्वो दण्डजितो लोको दुर्लभो हि शुचिर्जनः। दण्डस्य हि भयाद् भीतो भोगायैव प्रवर्तते॥
Every one in this world is kept all right by chastisement. A person by nature pure and pious is rare. In fear of chastisement, man becomes disposed to observe rules and restrictions.
चातुर्वर्ण्यप्रमोदाय सुनीतिनयनाय च। दण्डो विधात्रा विहितो धर्मार्थी भुवि रक्षितुम्॥
Chastisement was introduced by the Creator himself for protecting Religion and Profit, for the happiness of all the four orders, and for making thein pious and humble.
यदि दण्डान्न बिभ्येयुर्वयांसि श्वापदानि च। अधुः पशून् मनुष्यांश्च यज्ञार्थानि हवींषि च॥
If there had been no fear of chastisement, then ravens and beasts of prey would have devoured all other animals and men and the clarified butter intended for sacrifices.
न ब्रह्मचार्यधीयीत कल्याणी गौर्न दुह्यते। न कन्योद्वहनं गच्छेद् यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्॥
If chastisement did not keep up and protect (the world), then no body would have read the Vedas, nobody would have milked a milch cow, and no maiden would have married.
विष्वग्लोपः प्रवर्तेत भिधेरन् सर्वसेतवः। ममत्वं न प्रजानीयुर्यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्॥
If chastisement did not uphold and protect, then destruction and confusion would have prevailed everywhere and all restrictions would have disappeared, and the idea of property would have gone away.
न संवत्सरसत्राणि तिष्ठेयुरकुतोभयाः। विधिवद् दक्षिणावन्ति यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्॥
If chastisement did not uphold and protect, people could never duly celebrate annual sacrifices with profuse presents.
चरेयुर्नाश्रमे धर्म यथोक्तं विधिमाश्रिताः। न विद्यां प्राप्नुयात् कश्चिद् यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्।।४०
If chastisement did not uphold and protect, no one would observe the duties of his own order as sanctioned (in the scriptures), and no one would have succeeded in gaining knowledge.
न चोष्टा न बलीव नाश्वाश्वतरगर्दभाः। युक्ता वहेयुर्यानानि यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्॥
If chastisement did not reign supreme, neither, nor asses, would, even if yoked thereto, would carry cars and carriages.
न प्रेष्या वचनं कुर्युर्न बाला जातु कर्हिचित्। न तिष्ठेद् युवती धर्मे यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्॥ दण्डे स्थिताः प्रजाः सर्वा भयं दण्डे विदुर्बुधाः। दण्डे स्वर्गो मनुष्याणां लोकोऽयं सुप्रतिष्ठितः॥
All creatures depend upon chastisement. The learned, therefore, declare that chastisement is the root of all things. Upon chastisement rests the heaven that people seek, and upon il rests this world also.
न तत्र कूटं पापं वा वञ्चना वापि दृश्यते। यत्र दण्डः सुविहितश्चरत्यरिविनाशनः॥
No sin, no falsehood, and no wickedness, is to be seen there where foe-destroying chastisement is properly used.
हविःश्वा प्रलिहेद् दृष्ट्वा दण्डश्चेन्नोद्यतो भवेत्। हरेत् काकः पुरोडाशं यदि दण्डो न पालयेत्॥
If the rod of chastisement be not taken up, the dog will lick the sacrificial butter. If that rod were not raised up, the crow also would take away the first (sacrificial) offering.
यदीदं धर्मतो राज्यं विहितं यद्यधर्मतः। कार्यस्तत्र शोको वै भुक्ष्व भोगान् यजस्व च॥
Fairly or unfairly, this kingdom has not been gained by us. Our duty now is to give up grief. Do you, therefore, enjoy it and celebrate sacrifices!
सुखेन धर्मं श्रीमन्तश्चरन्ति शुचिवाससः। संवर्षन्तः फलैर्दानैर्भुजानाश्चान्नमुत्तमम्॥
Living with their dear wives the lucky men, cat good food, wear good clothes, and cheerfully acquire virtue by fruits and gifts.
अर्थे सर्वे समारम्भाः समायत्ता न संशयः। स च दण्डे समायत्तः पश्य दण्डस्य गौरवम्॥
Forsooth, all our acts, depend on wealth : that wealth again depends on chastisement. Mark, therefore, the utility of chastisement!
लोकयात्रार्थमेवेह धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम्। अहिंसासाधुहिंसेति श्रेयान् धर्मपरिग्रहः॥
Duties have been laid down for maintaining the various relations of the world. There are two things here, viz., abstention from injury and injury done with righteous motives, Of these two, that which brings in righteousness is preferable.
नात्यन्तं गुणवत् किंचिन्न चाप्यत्यन्तनिर्गुणम्। उभयं सर्वकार्येषु दृश्यते साध्वसाधु वा॥
There is no act that is entirely pure, nor any that is entirely simple. In all acts, right or wrong, something of both prevails.
पशूनां वृषणं छित्त्वा ततो भिन्दन्ति मस्तकम्। वहन्ति बहवो भारान् बध्नन्ति दमयन्ति च॥
Animals are castrated, and their horns are cut off. They are then compelled to carry weights are tethered, and beaten.
एवं पर्याकुले लोके वितथैर्जर्जरीकृते। तैस्तैायैर्महाराज पुराणं धर्ममाचर॥
In this world that is unsubstantial full of abuses and painful, O king, do you practise the old customs of men, following rules and examples quoted above.
यज्ञ देहि प्रजां रक्ष धर्म समनुपालय। अमित्राञ्जहि कौन्तेय मित्राणि परिपालय॥
Celebrate sacrifices, distribute alms, protect your subjects, and practise righteousness. Kill your enemies, O son of Kunti, and protect your friends.
मा च ते निघ्नतः शत्रून् मन्युर्भवतु पार्थिव। न तत्र किल्बिषं किंचित् कर्तुर्भवति भारत।॥
Be not dispirited. O king, while killing enemies! He that does it, О Bharata, does not commit the slightest sin!
आततायी हि यो हन्यादाततायिनमागतम्। न तेन भ्रूणहा स स्यान्मन्युस्तं मन्युमार्छति॥
He who takes up a weapon and kills an arined enemy advancing against him, does not incur the sin of killing a man, for it is the anger of the advancing enemy that excites the anger of the destroyer.
अवध्यः सर्वभूतानामन्तरात्मा न संशयः। अवध्ये चात्मनि कथं वध्योभवति कस्यचित्॥
The soul of every creature cannot be killed. When the soul cannot be killed how then can one be killed by another?
यथा हि पुरुषः शालां पुनः सम्प्रविशेन्नवाम्। एवं जीवः शरीराणि तानि तानि प्रपद्यते॥
As a person enters a new house, so does a creature put on successive bodies.
देहान् पुराणानुत्सृज्य नवान् सम्प्रतिपद्यते। एवं मृत्युमुखं प्राहुर्जना ये तत्त्वदर्शिनः॥
Leaving behind decrepit bodies, a creature acquires new forms. People gifted with true insight consider this change as death.