Shloka 91
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
उत्पतेत् सहजाद् देशाद् व्याधिदुर्भिक्षपीडितात् | अन्यत्र वस्तुं गच्छेद् वा वसेद् वा नित्यमानित:
utpatet sahajādd deśād vyādhidurbhikṣapīḍitāt | anyatra vastuṁ gacched vā vased vā nityamānitaḥ ||
Brahmadatta berkata: Jika tanah kelahiran ditimpa penyakit dan kebuluran, demi memelihara diri hendaklah seseorang meninggalkannya, atau pergi menetap di tempat lain. Namun jika terpaksa tinggal juga, hendaklah hidup dengan cara yang sentiasa dihormati—memelihara maruah dan kedudukan sosial walau dalam kesusahan.
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
In times of severe crisis—when one’s homeland is stricken by disease and famine—dharma permits prioritizing self-preservation by relocating. If relocation is impossible, one should still uphold dignified conduct and maintain honorable standing, rather than collapsing into disorder or disgrace.
Within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, Brahmadatta offers practical counsel for calamity: leave an afflicted region to protect life, or, if compelled to stay, live with sustained respectability and disciplined social behavior.