Shloka 90
Daṇḍanīti and the King as the Cause of Yuga-Order (दण्डनीतिः राजधर्मश्च युगकारणत्वम्)
अशुभस्य यदा त्वर्ध द्वावंशावनुवर्तते | कृष्टपच्यैव पृथिवी भवत्यर्धफला तथा
aśubhasya yadā tv ardhaṃ dvāv aṃśāv anuvartate | kṛṣṭapacyā eva pṛthivī bhavaty ardha-phalā tathā ||
उस समय अशुभ के दो भाग शुभ के दो भागों के पीछे चलते हैं। पृथ्वी जोतने-बोने से ही अन्न देती है; परन्तु फसल आधी ही फलती है और आधी नष्ट हो जाती है।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when evil is reduced and good predominates, lingering adharma still weakens outcomes: prosperity depends on effort and remains insecure, so society must actively uphold dharma to prevent loss alongside gain.
In Bhishma’s instruction in the Shanti Parva, he describes a condition of the world where auspiciousness is present but not complete; the land produces only through cultivation, and even then only half the crop succeeds while the rest is ruined—an image of moral imbalance affecting material welfare.