Shloka 37
आपद्धर्मनिर्णयः — विश्वामित्र-श्वपचसंवादः
Apaddharma Determination: Dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Śvapaca
गतं मां सहसा भूमिं नकुलो भक्षयिष्यति
gataṁ māṁ sahasā bhūmiṁ nakulo bhakṣayiṣyati
ビーシュマは言った。「私が去れば、この大地はたちまち『ナクラ』に食い尽くされよう。」文脈においてこの一句は、憂いを帯びた警告である。すなわち、ダルマを支える長老・守護者が退くと、抑えの利かぬ衝動——ここでは名を与えられた存在として擬人化される——がたちまち国土に乱れと害をもたらし得る、ということだ。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that when a restraining, dharma-aligned authority disappears, the realm can quickly fall prey to destructive forces; stability in governance requires continuity, self-control, and safeguards against sudden disorder.
Bhīṣma, speaking in the Śānti Parva’s instruction-setting, utters a foreboding remark that after his departure the earth/kingdom will be rapidly ‘devoured’ by Nakula—framing a concern about what follows once he is no longer present to steady events.