Shloka 22
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
गतदैवतसंस्थाना वृद्धबालविनाकृता । गोजाविमहिषीहीना परस्परपराहता
gatadaivatasaṁsthānā vṛddhabālavinākṛtā | gojāvimahiṣīhīnā parasparaparāhatā ||
भीष्म ने कहा—देश से देवालय और धर्मसंस्थाएँ उठ गई थीं; बूढ़े और बालक नष्ट हो गए थे। गाय, भेड़, बकरी और भैंसें प्रायः समाप्त हो गई थीं। भूख से व्याकुल प्राणी एक-दूसरे पर प्रहार करते थे।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dharma-supporting institutions and basic sustenance collapse, society descends into fear and mutual violence; the verse warns that protecting religious-social order and ensuring food security are ethical duties of governance.
Bhishma depicts a devastated realm: worship-centers and institutions have vanished, vulnerable age-groups have died, livestock is depleted, and hunger drives people to attack each other—illustrating the extreme conditions of disorder and scarcity.