Shloka 55
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
उपसूष्टेषु दान्तेषु दुराचारेषु साधुषु । अविनीतेषु लुब्धेषु सुमहद् दण्डधारणम्
upasūṣṭeṣu dānteṣu durācāreṣu sādhuṣu | avinīteṣu lubdheṣu sumahad daṇḍadhāraṇam ||
Nārada berkata: Di mana orang-orang yang menahan diri justru diganggu, di mana kaum saleh diperlakukan dengan kejam, dan orang-orang yang tak berdisiplin serta tamak berkuasa—di mana hukuman dijatuhkan dengan sangat keras—di negeri seperti itu seseorang tidak patut tinggal tanpa pertimbangan yang matang.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A person should avoid living unthinkingly under a regime where the good are oppressed and punishment is excessively harsh; ethical discernment is required in choosing one’s place of residence and allegiance.
In Śānti Parva’s discourse on dharma and governance, Nārada describes signs of a disordered polity—where virtue is harmed and greed and indiscipline dominate—and warns against settling there without due consideration.