दण्ड
daṇḍá/dɐɳ.ɖɐ́/
The Sanskrit word for punishment is दण्ड (daṇḍá).
The term दण्ड is a common and general way to express punishment in Sanskrit.
Meaning: penalty for wrongdoing (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /dɐɳ.ɖɐ́/ (daṇḍá). It consists of 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- In ancient Indian political science, दण्ड describes not just a penalty but the very concept of state power and the rule of law. Without दण्ड, it was believed that society would collapse into the 'law of the fish' where the strong eat the weak.
- While it means 'punishment' in a legal sense, दण्ड also describes a straight line or a staff used by a wandering ascetic. This creates a linguistic link between the rigid discipline of a monk and the rigidity of the law.
- The word दण्ड is used in Sanskrit to describe the 'danda' or a specific poetic meter. This uses the idea of a 'staff' to describe the structural support or constraint of a verse.
Examples in context
- दण्डः अनिवार्यः अस्ति।daṇḍaḥ anivāryaḥ asti.Punishment is necessary.
- सः दण्डं प्राप्नोति।saḥ daṇḍaṃ prāpnoti.He receives the punishment.
- अयं दण्डः अति गुरुः।ayaṃ daṇḍaḥ ati guruḥ.This punishment is very heavy.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing school rules.
- इशान Ishanकिम् अयम् अस्य दण्डः अस्ति?kim ayam asya daṇḍaḥ asti?Is this the punishment for him?
- ईशा Ishaआम्, गुरुः दण्डं दत्तवान्।ām, guruḥ daṇḍaṃ dattavān.Yes, the teacher gave the punishment.
- इशान Ishanकिं दण्डः अति कठिनः अस्ति?kiṃ daṇḍaḥ ati kaṭhinaḥ asti?Is the punishment too difficult?
- ईशा Ishaन, इशान, एषः सामान्यः अस्ति।na, iśāna, eṣaḥ sāmānyaḥ asti.No, Ishaan, this is normal.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry दण्ड, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
