Chastisement

It is said that the King have the right to wield the rod of chastisement. Only the King can wield this rod and nobody else. If other than King some body uses it then he is said to incur sin.

But this Danda or the rod of chastisement should be used as a last resort.

This rod of chastisement should be used against one’s enemies as well as one’s subjects.

When used against one’s enemies it should be used as a last resort, when all other three courses (Sama, Dhana, and Bhedha. Sama stands for peaceful way, Dhana stands for gift, Bhedha stands for creating rift) of action has been tried and of no avail.

 When used to rule his Kingdom it should be used keep the subjects to do their duty.

Kings rod of chastisement is invisible but the subjects know well that the King is capable of inflicting him punishments.

The rod of chastisement is awake when all other is asleep.

The rod of chastisements takes many forms.  For some mere censure is enough. For some it takes the shape of deprivation of food. In the case of some other it takes the shape of deprivation of wealth by means of fine and restrictions.

Where there is no other course then the rod is wielded in the form of physical suffering.

There are some sinful people who could only be kept under check by the application of rod of chastisement.

Because of the rod of chastisement all the four order of life is regulated and the society runs smoothly.

If the rod of chastisement is not wielded then the idea of ownership of property and family will not be there. Then nobody will marry.

The women marry because of the censure of the world and also because they need protection throughout their life.

Even for the camels and oxen to draw the carriages some amount of chastisement is required.

The Gods’ who wield the rod of chastisement like the Vishnu, Shiva, and Skanda are adored. Whereas, the Gods’ like Brahma, Pushan and Dhatri are not worshipped because they do not wield the rod of chastisement.

Everyone in the world is made to follow his duties because of chastisement. If no chastisement prevailed then unruly elements would overtake the world and harass the good and soft minded people.

There are two higher things in this world. They are abstention from injuring others and injury caused while striving for righteous motives.

Of these two the injury caused while one is engaged in striving for the righteous motives is superior because there is no act that is wholly meritorious and wholly wicked. All the actions are the mixture of these two.

One finds his foe taking up a weapon and advancing against him with the intention of killing him. In this case it is not a sin to kill the advancing foe. The one who provokes the other person to take up to arms to kill him is the cause for the killing. Therefore no sin is attached with the slayer of the foes, in self defense.

Chastisement is one more powerful limb of a kingdom. Without chastisement or punishment the people will lose respect for the general law and order.

Without the fear of punishment the people will stray from the good behavior and there won't be any sense of belonging or property.

Nobody will be able to protect his wife and children and his properties. Without the punishment there will be no prosperity. Punishment is the duty of the kings.

The punishment was sent down by the God to help the kings rule their kingdom with dharma.