Shloka 21
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
क्वचिच्चोरै: क्वचिच्छस्त्रै: क्वचिद् राजभिरातुरै: । परस्परभयाच्चैव शून्यभूयिष्ठनिर्जना,कहीं चोरोंसे, कहीं अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंसे, कहीं राजाओंसे और कहीं श्षुधातुर मनुष्योंद्वारा उपद्रव खड़ा होनेके कारण तथा पारस्परिक भयसे भी वसुधाका बहुत बड़ा भाग उजाड़ होकर निर्जन बन गया था
kvacic coraiḥ kvacic chastraiḥ kvacid rājabhir āturaiḥ | parasparabhayāc caiva śūnyabhūyiṣṭhanirjanā ||
Bhishma said: “In some places, bandits caused terror; in others, weapons and armed violence did so; elsewhere, distressed rulers became the source of oppression. And because of mutual fear among people as well, a great portion of the earth became largely empty—desolate and without inhabitants.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dharma and effective governance collapse, society is consumed by fear and violence—from criminals, militarized force, and even unstable rulers—leading to depopulation and widespread ruin. The verse underscores the ethical duty of rulers to secure order and protect people from both external and internal threats.
Bhishma is describing a time of severe social breakdown: different regions are afflicted by banditry, armed conflict, and oppressive or distressed kings. Mutual fear among people further accelerates flight and abandonment, so large tracts of land become deserted.