Verse 10.38
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
दण्डो दमयतामस्मि नीतिरस्मि जिगीषताम् | मौनं चैवास्मि गुह्यानां ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामहम् ||३८||
Transliteration (IAST)
dando damayatam asmi nitir asmi jigisatam | maunam caivasmi guhyanam jnanam jnanavatam aham ||38||
Word-by-Word Meanings
Translation
Among punishers I am the rod of chastisement; among those seeking victory I am statesmanship; among secrets I am silence; and among the wise I am wisdom.
Commentary
Danda (the rod) represents the principle of just governance that maintains social order. Niti (statesmanship) is the art of achieving righteous goals through wisdom rather than mere force. Silence is the greatest keeper of secrets - what is unspoken cannot be betrayed. Wisdom among the wise points to the essence rather than the container. Madhva explains that these four represent the highest expression of governance, strategy, discretion, and knowledge respectively.