Shloka 16
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
भूमिरेतो निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव । राजानं चाप्ययोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम्
bhūmir eto nigirati sarpo bilaśayān iva | rājānaṃ cāpy ayoddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam ||
Soma dit : « Comme le serpent engloutit les petites créatures qui vivent dans les trous, ainsi la terre “engloutit” (c’est-à-dire voue à la ruine et à l’oubli) un roi qui refuse de combattre et un brahmane qui ne part pas en quête du savoir. Autrement dit, négliger son devoir propre—vaillance et protection pour le kshatriya, étude disciplinée par le voyage et la formation pour le brahmane—mène au déclin, aussi sûrement que la proie est dévorée par le serpent. »
सोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches svadharma: a Kshatriya who refuses rightful battle and a Brahmin who refuses the disciplined pursuit of learning (including necessary travel/sojourn for study) both fall into decline. Neglect of one’s ordained responsibilities leads to being ‘consumed’ by worldly consequences.
Soma delivers a moral analogy: just as a snake devours small burrow-dwelling creatures, the earth metaphorically devours those who abandon their social and ethical duties—specifically, the non-fighting king and the non-studying (non-traveling for learning) Brahmin.