Shloka 17
अनास्तिक्यं च सर्वेषामस्माकमपि रक्षणे | प्रतितिछेत लोके5स्मिन्नधर्मश्वैव नो भवेत्,“इसके सिवा लोकमें यह बात फैल जायगी कि हम सब लोग किसी आर्तकी रक्षारूप धर्मके पालनमें श्रद्धा नहीं रखते। साथ ही हमें अधर्म भी प्राप्तहोगा
anāstikyaṃ ca sarveṣām asmākam api rakṣaṇe | pratitiṣṭhet loke 'sminn adharmaś caiva no bhavet ||
And in this world it would become established that all of us—even in the matter of protecting one who seeks refuge—have no faith in the duty of protection. Thus, adharma would surely accrue to us as well.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Neglecting the duty of protection (rakṣaṇa-dharma), especially toward one in distress, is not only a personal moral failure but also undermines public faith in dharma; it brings the stain and consequence of adharma upon the community.
Vaiśampāyana reports a warning that if they fail to uphold protective duty, society will conclude that they are faithless regarding dharma, and that such a lapse will result in adharma attaching to them.