Shloka 34
निग्रहेण च पापानां साधूनां प्रग्रहेण च । इयं तपस्विनी सत्या धारयिष्यति मेदिनी,'पापियोंको दण्ड देने और साधु पुरुषोंपर अनुग्रह करनेसे यह तपस्विनी सत्यस्वरूपा पृथ्वी बलसे टिकी रह सकेगी
nigraheṇa ca pāpānāṃ sādhūnāṃ pragraheṇa ca | iyaṃ tapasvinī satyā dhārayiṣyati medinīm ||
पापियों का निग्रह-दण्ड और साधुओं का अनुग्रह-रक्षण होने से यह तपस्विनी, सत्यस्वरूपा पृथ्वी अपने को धारण कर सकेगी।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a principle of rājadharma: society and the world remain stable when rulers both (1) restrain and punish the wicked (nigraha) and (2) support and protect the virtuous (pragraha). Justice is not only punitive; it must also actively uphold goodness.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration within Śānti Parva’s teachings on governance and dharma, the earth is personified as a truth-embodied ascetic. Her ability to ‘bear’ the world is linked to the ruler’s balanced exercise of punishment for wrongdoing and favor toward the righteous.