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 ||
ソーマは言った。「穴に住む小さき生き物を蛇が呑み込むように、大地もまた『呑み込む』—すなわち滅ぼし、無名の闇へ沈める—戦わぬ王と、学びを求めて旅立たぬバラモンを。言い換えれば、自らの本分—クシャトリヤには武勇と守護、バラモンには旅と修練を伴う規律ある学修—を怠れば、獲物が蛇に食われるがごとく、必ずや衰亡に至るのだ。」
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.