Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
उपसूष्टेषु दान्तेषु दुराचारेषु साधुषु । अविनीतेषु लुब्धेषु सुमहद् दण्डधारणम्
upasūṣṭeṣu dānteṣu durācāreṣu sādhuṣu | avinīteṣu lubdheṣu sumahad daṇḍadhāraṇam ||
নাৰদে ক’লে—য’ত দান্ত (জিতেন্দ্ৰিয়) লোকক পীড়া দিয়া হয়, সাধুজনৰ ওপৰত দুৰাচাৰ চলে, আৰু অবিনীত-লোভী লোকৰ প্ৰাধান্য থাকে—য’ত অতি কঠোৰ দণ্ডৰ প্ৰচলন—তেনেকুৱা দেশত বিনা বিচাৰে বাস কৰা উচিত নহয়।
नारद उवाच
A person should avoid living unthinkingly under a regime where the good are oppressed and punishment is excessively harsh; ethical discernment is required in choosing one’s place of residence and allegiance.
In Śānti Parva’s discourse on dharma and governance, Nārada describes signs of a disordered polity—where virtue is harmed and greed and indiscipline dominate—and warns against settling there without due consideration.