Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.121
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12.121.1
अयं पितामहेनोक्तो राजधर्मः सनातनः ।
कीदृशश्च महादण्डो दण्डे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ १२.१२१.१ ॥
Declared by the grandsire, this is the eternal duty of kings. What kind of great punishment is it, on which everything is established?
12.121.2
देवतानामृषीणां च पितॄणां च महात्मनाम् ।
यक्षरक्षः पिशाचानां मर्त्यानां च विशेषतः ॥ १२.१२१.२ ॥
For the gods, the sages, the great-souled ancestors, the yakṣas, rākṣasas and piśācas, and especially for mortals.
12.121.3
सर्वेषां प्राणिनां लोके तिर्यक्ष्वपि निवासिनाम् ।
सर्वस्यापि महातेजा दण्डः श्रेयानिति प्रभो ॥ १२.१२१.३ ॥
O lord of great radiance, you have said that punishment is the best for all living beings in the world, even for those who dwell among animals.
12.121.4
इत्येतदुक्तं भवता दण्डे वै सचराचरम् ।
पश्यतां लोक आयत्तं ससुरासुरमानुषम्।
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तत्त्वेन भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.१२१.४ ॥
You have said that the whole world, moving and unmoving, with gods, asuras and men, depends on punishment. O bull of the Bharatas, I wish to hear this truly.
12.121.5
को दण्डः कीदृशो दण्डः किंरूपः किंपरायणः ।
किमात्मकः कथंभूतः कतिमूर्तिः कथं प्रभुः ॥ १२.१२१.५ ॥
What is punishment? What kind of punishment is it? What is its form, its supreme goal, its nature? How is it constituted, how many forms does it have, and how is it lord?
12.121.6
जागर्ति च कथं दण्डः प्रजासु विहितात्मकः ।
कश्च पूर्वापरमिदं जागर्ति प्रतिपालयन् ॥ १२.१२१.६ ॥
How does punishment, with its nature established among the subjects, stay awake? And who stays awake, protecting this world of past and future?
12.121.7
कश्च विज्ञायते पूर्वः को वरो दण्डसंज्ञितः ।
किंसंस्थश्चाभवद्दण्डः का चास्य गतिरिष्यते ॥ १२.१२१.७ ॥
What is known as the first, the best thing called punishment? On what did punishment rest, and what is its course considered to be?
12.121.8
शृणु कौरव्य यो दण्डो व्यवहारो यथा च सः ।
यस्मिन्हि सर्वमायत्तं स धर्म इति केवलः ॥ १२.१२१.८ ॥
Listen, descendant of Kuru: what the punishment is, and how it is in conduct. That in which everything depends is dharma alone.
12.121.9
धर्मस्यार्थे महाराज व्यवहार इतीष्यते ।
तस्य लोपः कथं न स्याल्लोकेष्विह महात्मनः ॥ १२.१२१.९ ॥
Great king, conduct is said to exist for the sake of dharma. How could its neglect not occur in this world, in the case of a great-souled one?
12.121.10
इत्यर्थं व्यवाहरस्य व्यवहारत्वमिष्यते ।
अपि चैतत्पुरा राजन्मनुना प्रोक्तमादितः ॥ १२.१२१.१० ॥
Thus the conduct of law is considered to be conduct for this purpose. And indeed, O king, this was declared formerly from the beginning by Manu.
12.121.11
सुप्रणीतेन दण्डेन प्रियाप्रियसमात्मना ।
प्रजा रक्षति यः सम्यग्धर्म एव स केवलः ॥ १२.१२१.११ ॥
He who protects his subjects rightly, with well-administered punishment and a mind equal toward the dear and the not-dear, that alone is dharma.
12.121.12
यथोक्तमेतद्वचनं प्रागेव मनुना पुरा ।
यन्मयोक्तं वसिष्ठेन ब्रह्मणो वचनं महत् ॥ १२.१२१.१२ ॥
This statement was indeed said before, just as Manu said it formerly, and as I declared it, the great word of Brahmā spoken by Vasiṣṭha.
12.121.13
प्रागिदं वचनं प्रोक्तमतः प्राग्वचनं विदुः ।
व्यवहारस्य चाख्यानाद्व्यवहार इहोच्यते ॥ १२.१२१.१३ ॥
This statement was spoken before, so it is known as the former statement. Because it recounts legal procedure, here it is called 'vyavahāra'.
12.121.14
दण्डान्त्रिवर्गः सततं सुप्रणीतात्प्रवर्तते ।
दैवं हि परमो दण्डो रूपतोऽग्निरिवोत्थितः ॥ १२.१२१.१४ ॥
Through well-administered punishment the threefold aim constantly proceeds. Divine punishment is indeed supreme; in form it has risen like fire.
12.121.15
नीलोत्पलदलश्यामश्चतुर्दंष्ट्रश्चतुर्भुजः ।
अष्टपान्नैकनयनः शङ्कुकर्णोर्ध्वरोमवान् ॥ १२.१२१.१५ ॥
Dark as the petal of a blue lotus, four-fanged, four-armed, eight-footed, one-eyed, stake-eared, with upright hair.
12.121.16
जटी द्विजिह्वस्ताम्रास्यो मृगराजतनुच्छदः ।
एतद्रूपं बिभर्त्युग्रं दण्डो नित्यं दुरासदः ॥ १२.१२१.१६ ॥
Matted-haired, two-tongued, copper-faced, clad in a lion's hide: punishment always bears this fierce form, hard to approach.
12.121.17
असिर्धनुर्गदा शक्तिस्त्रिशूलं मुद्गरः शरः ।
मुसलं परशुश्चक्रं प्रासदण्डर्ष्टितोमराः ॥ १२.१२१.१७ ॥
Sword, bow, mace, spear, trident, club, arrow, pestle-club, axe, discus, lance, staff, spear and javelin.
12.121.18
सर्वप्रहरणीयानि यानि यानीह कानिचित् ।
दण्ड एव स सर्वात्मा लोके चरति मूर्तिमान् ॥ १२.१२१.१८ ॥
Whatever weapons there are here that can strike, all of them are punishment itself; that self of all, embodied, moves through the world.
12.121.19
भिन्दंश्छिन्दन्रुजन्कृन्तन्दारयन्पाटयंस्तथा ।
घातयन्नभिधावंश्च दण्ड एव चरत्युत ॥ १२.१२१.१९ ॥
Piercing, cutting, breaking, tearing, rending, and likewise striking down and rushing upon — thus does punishment itself move about.
12.121.20
असिर्विशसनो धर्मस्तीक्ष्णवर्मा दुरासदः ।
श्रीगर्भो विजयः शास्ता व्यवहारः प्रजागरः ॥ १२.१२१.२० ॥
The sword, the slayer, righteousness, the one with sharp armor, the hard to approach, womb of fortune, victory, the ruler, legal procedure, and the watchman of the people.
12.121.21
शास्त्रं ब्राह्मणमन्त्राश्च शास्ता प्रवचनं परम् ।
धर्मपालोऽक्षरो गोपः सत्यगो नित्यगो गृहः ॥ १२.१२१.२१ ॥
The scripture, the mantras of the Brahmins, the ruler, the supreme discourse, the guardian of dharma, the imperishable, the protector, the one who goes in truth, the one who goes eternally, the house.
12.121.22
असङ्गो रुद्रतनयो मनुर्ज्येष्ठः शिवंकरः ।
नामान्येतानि दण्डस्य कीर्तितानि युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.१२१.२२ ॥
The unattached, the son of Rudra, Manu, the eldest, the bringer of welfare — these are the names of punishment that have been declared, O Yudhiṣṭhira.
12.121.23
दण्डो हि भगवान्विष्णुर्यज्ञो नारायणः प्रभुः ।
शश्वद्रुपं महद्बिभ्रन्महात्पुरुष उच्यते ॥ १२.१२१.२३ ॥
Punishment indeed is the blessed Viṣṇu, the sacrifice, Nārāyaṇa, the lord; bearing an eternal and great form, he is called the Great Person.
12.121.24
तथोक्ता ब्रह्मकन्येति लक्ष्मीर्नीतिः सरस्वती ।
दण्डनीतिर्जगद्धात्री दण्डो हि बहुविग्रहः ॥ १२.१२१.२४ ॥
Thus she is called the daughter of Brahmā — Lakṣmī, polity, Sarasvatī; the science of punishment is the nourisher of the world, and punishment indeed has many forms.
12.121.25
अर्थानर्थौ सुखं दुःखं धर्माधर्मौ बलाबले ।
दौर्भाग्यं भागधेयं च पुण्यापुण्ये गुणागुणौ ॥ १२.१२१.२५ ॥
Gain and loss, happiness and sorrow, righteousness and unrighteousness, strength and weakness, misfortune and fortune, merit and demerit, virtue and lack of virtue.
12.121.26
कामाकामावृतुर्मासः शर्वरी दिवसः क्षणः ।
अप्रमादः प्रमादश्च हर्षशोकौ शमो दमः ॥ १२.१२१.२६ ॥
Desire and non-desire, season and month, night and day, moment, vigilance and heedlessness, joy and sorrow, calm and self-restraint.
12.121.27
दैवं पुरुषकारश्च मोक्षामोक्षौ भयाभये ।
हिंसाहिंसे तपो यज्ञः संयमोऽथ विषामृते ॥ १२.१२१.२७ ॥
Fate and human effort, liberation and non-liberation, fear and fearlessness, violence and non-violence, austerity, sacrifice, restraint, poison and nectar.
12.121.28
अन्तश्चादिश्च मध्यं च कृतानां च प्रपञ्चनम् ।
मदः प्रमोदो दर्पश्च दम्भो धैर्यं नयानयौ ॥ १२.१२१.२८ ॥
End, beginning and middle, the unfolding of created things, intoxication and delight, arrogance and hypocrisy, steadfastness, right and wrong policy.
12.121.29
अशक्तिः शक्तिरित्येवं मानस्तम्भौ व्ययाव्ययौ ।
विनयश्च विसर्गश्च कालाकालौ च कौरव ॥ १२.१२१.२९ ॥
Weakness and strength, likewise pride and stubbornness, expenditure and non-expenditure, modesty and release, time and untimeliness, O Kaurava.
12.121.30
अनृतं चाज्ञता सत्यं श्रद्धाश्रद्धे तथैव च ।
क्लीबता व्यवसायश्च लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ ॥ १२.१२१.३० ॥
Falsehood and ignorance, truth, faith and lack of faith, likewise, cowardice and resolve, gain and non-gain, victory and defeat.
12.121.31
तीक्ष्णता मृदुतात्युग्रमागमानागमौ तथा ।
विरोधश्चाविरोधश्च कार्याकार्ये बलाबले ॥ १२.१२१.३१ ॥
Sharpness and gentleness, excessive severity, arrival and non-arrival (of gain); likewise opposition and non-opposition, what is to be done and what is not, strength and weakness.
12.121.32
असूया चानसूया च धर्माधर्मौ तथैव च ।
अपत्रपानपत्रपे ह्रीश्च संपद्विपच्च ह ॥ १२.१२१.३२ ॥
Envy and absence of envy, dharma and adharma, likewise shame and shamelessness, modesty, prosperity and adversity.
12.121.33
तेजः कर्माणि पाण्डित्यं वाक्शक्तिर्बुद्धितत्वता ।
एवं दण्डस्य लोकेऽस्मिञ्जागर्ति बहुरूपता ॥ १२.१२१.३३ ॥
Splendor, deeds, learning, power of speech, the reality of intellect; thus in this world the many-formed nature of punishment stays awake.
12.121.34
न स्याद्यदीह दण्डो वै प्रमथेयुः परस्परम् ।
भयाद्दण्डस्य नान्योन्यं घ्नन्ति चैव युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.१२१.३४ ॥
If there were no punishment here, people would tear one another apart; out of fear of punishment they do not kill one another, Yudhiṣṭhira.
12.121.35
दण्डेन रक्ष्यमाणा हि राजन्नहरहः प्रजाः ।
राजानं वर्धयन्तीह तस्माद्दण्डः परायणम् ॥ १२.१२१.३५ ॥
O king, the subjects protected by punishment day after day make the king flourish; therefore punishment is the highest support here.
12.121.36
व्यवस्थापयते नित्यमिमं लोकं नरेश्वर ।
सत्ये व्यवस्थितो धर्मो ब्राह्मणेष्ववतिष्ठते ॥ १२.१२१.३६ ॥
O lord of men, it constantly keeps this world in order; dharma, established in truth, abides among the brahmins.
12.121.37
धर्मयुक्ता द्विजश्रेष्ठा देवयुक्ता भवन्ति च ।
बभूव यज्ञो देवेभ्यो यज्ञः प्रीणाति देवताः ॥ १२.१२१.३७ ॥
Those endowed with dharma, the best of the twice-born, also become endowed with the gods. Sacrifice came into being for the gods, and sacrifice pleases the gods.
12.121.38
प्रीताश्च देवता लोकमिन्द्रे प्रतिददत्युत ।
अत्रं ददाति शक्रश्चाप्यनुगृह्णन्निमाः प्रजाः ॥ १२.१२१.३८ ॥
Pleased, the gods give back to the world through Indra; Śakra gives food, showing favour to these creatures.
12.121.39
प्राणाश्च सर्वभूतानां नित्यमन्ने प्रतिष्ठिताः ।
तस्मात्प्रजाः प्रतिष्ठन्ते दण्डो जागर्ति तासु च ॥ १२.१२१.३९ ॥
The life-breaths of all beings are always established in food; therefore creatures endure, and the rod of punishment stays watchful over them.
12.121.40
एवंप्नयोजनश्चैव दण्डः क्षत्रियतां गतः ।
रक्षप्रजाः स जागर्ति नित्यं स्ववहितोक्षरः ॥ १२.१२१.४० ॥
Thus the purposeful rod of punishment attained the state of a kṣatriya; protecting the creatures, it stays always awake, self-restrained and imperishable.
12.121.41
ईश्वरः पुरुषः प्राणः सत्वं वृत्तं प्रजापतिः ।
भूतात्मा जीव इत्येवं नामभिः प्रोच्यतेऽष्टभिः ॥ १२.१२१.४१ ॥
Lord, Person, Breath, Being, Conduct, Lord of Creatures, Self of Beings, and Living Soul — by these eight names he is called.
12.121.42
अददद्दण्डमेवास्मै धृतमैश्वर्यमेव च ।
बले नयश्च संयुक्तः सदा पञ्चविधात्मकः ॥ १२.१२१.४२ ॥
He gave it the rod of punishment, and sovereignty held in trust; joined with strength and policy, always of a fivefold nature.
12.121.43
कुलं बहुधनामात्याः प्रज्ञा प्रोक्ता बलानि तु ।
आहार्यमष्टकैर्द्रव्यैर्बलमन्यद्युधिष्ठिर ॥ १२.१२१.४३ ॥
Lineage, abundant wealth, ministers and wisdom are declared to be strengths. But, O Yudhiṣṭhira, the strength to be acquired by eight kinds of resources is another.
12.121.44
हस्तिनोऽश्वा रथाः पत्तिर्नावो विष्टिस्तथैव च ।
देशिकाश्चादिकाश्चैव तदष्टाङ्गं बलं स्मृतम् ॥ १२.१२१.४४ ॥
Elephants, horses, chariots, infantry, boats, forced labourers, guides and the like—this is recorded as the army of eight limbs.
12.121.45
अथ चाङ्गस्य युक्तस्य रथिनो हस्तियायिनः ।
अश्वारोहाः पदाताश्च मन्त्रिणो रसदाश्च ये ॥ १२.१२१.४५ ॥
And of the equipped army of limbs: the chariot-warriors, elephant-riders, horsemen, foot-soldiers, counsellors and those who supply provisions—these too belong to it.
12.121.46
भिक्षुकाः प्राड्विवाकाश्च मौहूर्ता दैवचिन्तकाः ।
कोशो मित्राणि धान्यं च सर्वोपकरणानि च ॥ १२.१२१.४६ ॥
Mendicants, judges, reckoners of auspicious moments and diviners of fate, the treasury, allies, grain and all equipment—these too are counted in it.
12.121.47
सप्तप्रकृति चाष्टाङ्गं शरीरमिह तं विदुः ।
राज्यस्य दण्डमेवाङ्गं दण्डः प्रभव एव च ॥ १२.१२१.४७ ॥
Those who know this call the body of the kingdom the seven constituents and eight limbs; the limb of the kingdom is indeed the rod of punishment, and punishment is also the source of sovereignty.
12.121.48
ईश्वरेण प्रसन्नेन कारणात्क्षत्रियस्य च ।
दण्डो दत्तः सदा गोप्ता दण्डो हीदं सनातनम् ॥ १२.१२१.४८ ॥
The Lord, being pleased, gave the rod of punishment to the kṣatriya for this very reason; the rod of punishment is always the protector, for this rod is eternal.
12.121.49
राजा पूज्यतमो नान्यो यथा धर्मः प्रदर्शितः ।
ब्रह्मणा लोकरक्षार्थं स्वधर्मस्थापनाय च ॥ १२.१२१.४९ ॥
The king is the most worthy of honour; none other is shown as dharma is. Brahmā revealed this for the protection of the worlds and the establishing of each one's own dharma.
12.121.50
भर्तृप्रत्यय उत्पन्नो व्यवहारस्तथाविधः ।
तस्याद्य सहितो दृष्टो भर्तृप्रत्ययलक्षणः ॥ १२.१२१.५० ॥
The legal procedure that arises from trust in the ruler is of such a kind; now its connected form, marked by the sign of trust in the ruler, has been seen.
12.121.51
व्यवहारस्तु वेदात्मा वेदप्रत्यय उच्यते ।
मौलश्च नरशार्दूल शास्त्रोक्तश्च तथाऽपरः ॥ १२.१२१.५१ ॥
But legal procedure has the Veda as its essence; it is said to rest on the Veda. O tiger among men, one kind is traditional, and the other is taught in the scriptures.
12.121.52
उक्तो यश्चापि दण्डोऽसौ भर्तृप्रत्ययलक्षणः ।
ज्ञेयो नः स नरेन्द्रस्थो दण्डः प्रत्यय एव च ॥ १२.१२१.५२ ॥
The punishment that has been spoken of is also marked by the sign of trust in the ruler; we should know it — that punishment resides in the king, and it is indeed trust.
12.121.53
दण्डप्रत्ययदृष्टोऽपि व्यवहारात्मकः स्मृतः ।
व्यवहारः स्मृतो यश्च स वेदविषयात्मकः ॥ १२.१२१.५३ ॥
Even what is seen as trust in punishment is remembered as having legal procedure as its nature; and the legal procedure that is remembered has the subject of the Veda as its essence.
12.121.54
यश्च वेदप्रसूतात्मा स धर्मो गुणदर्शनः ।
धर्मप्रत्यय उद्दिष्टो यश्च धर्मः कृतात्मभिः ॥ १२.१२१.५४ ॥
That dharma whose essence springs from the Veda is the one that displays the virtues; and the dharma that the self-controlled have declared to be trust in dharma is that same dharma.
12.121.55
व्यवहारः प्रजागोप्ता ब्रह्मदृष्टो युधिष्ठिर ।
त्रीन्धारयति लोकान्वै सत्यात्मा भूतिवर्धनः ॥ १२.१२१.५५ ॥
Vyavahāra is the protector of the people, seen by the Veda, O Yudhiṣṭhira. Its nature is truth and it increases prosperity; it indeed upholds the three worlds.
12.121.56
यश्च दण्डः स दृष्टो नो व्यवहारः सनातनः ।
व्यवहारश्च दृष्टो यः स वेद इति नः श्रुतिः ॥ १२.१२१.५६ ॥
The punishment that is ordained we have seen, and the legal procedure is eternal. And the legal procedure that has been seen, that is the Veda, so our sacred tradition holds.
12.121.57
यश्च वेदः स वै धर्मो यश्च धर्मः स सत्पथः ।
ब्रह्मा पितामहः पूर्वं भगवांश्च प्रजापतिः ॥ १२.१२१.५७ ॥
That which is the Veda is indeed dharma, and that which is dharma is the true path. Formerly Brahmā, the grandfather, and the blessed lord Prajāpati (revealed it).
12.121.58
लोकानां स हि सर्वेषां ससुरासुररक्षसाम् ।
स मनुष्योरगवतां कर्ता चैव स भूतकृत् ॥ १२.१२१.५८ ॥
He is the creator of all the worlds, of all beings including gods, asuras and rākṣasas, and of humans and serpents; indeed he is the maker of beings.
12.121.59
ततो नो व्यवहारोऽयं भर्तृप्रत्ययलक्षणः ।
तस्मादिदमवोचाम व्यवहारनिदर्शनम् ॥ १२.१२१.५९ ॥
Therefore this legal procedure of ours, marked by reliance on the lord, is what we have declared as the illustration of legal procedure.
12.121.60
माता पिता च भ्राता च भार्या चैव पुरोहितः ।
नादण्ड्यो विद्यते राज्ञो यः स्वधर्मेण तिष्ठति ॥ १२.१२१.६० ॥
Not even mother, father, brother, wife, or household priest is exempt from punishment by the king; only he who abides by his own dharma is.