Shloka 16
Adhyātma-krama: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman Hierarchy and Citta-Prasāda (आध्यात्मक्रमः)
उत्सीदन्ति स्वधर्माक्ष तत्राधर्मेण पीडिता: । गवां भूमेश्च ये चापामोषधीनां च ये रसा:,उस समय अधर्मसे पीड़ित हो सभी वर्णोके स्वधर्म नष्ट हो जाते हैं। गौ, जल, भूमि और ओषधियोंके रस भी नष्टप्राय हो जाते हैं
utsīdanti svadharmākṣa tatrādharmeṇa pīḍitāḥ | gavāṃ bhūmeś ca ye cāpāmoṣadhīnāṃ ca ye rasāḥ ||
ବ୍ୟାସ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଅକ୍ଷ! ଯେତେବେଳେ ଲୋକେ ଅଧର୍ମରେ ପୀଡିତ ହୁଅନ୍ତି, ସେତେବେଳେ ତାଙ୍କର ସ୍ୱଧର୍ମ ଭାଙ୍ଗି ପଡ଼େ। ସେହି କାଳରେ ଜୀବନର ଆଧାର—ଗୋ, ଭୂମି, ଜଳ ଓ ଔଷଧିର ପୋଷକ ରସ—ମଧ୍ୟ କ୍ଷୟ ପାଇ ନଷ୍ଟପ୍ରାୟ ହୋଇଯାଏ।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
Adharma does not remain a private moral failure; it erodes svadharma (right duty) across society and even weakens the life-supporting order of nature—cattle, land, water, and the nourishing potency of plants.
Vyāsa is instructing his listener (addressed as Akṣa), describing the consequences of a society dominated by adharma: social duties collapse and the natural world’s sustaining resources deteriorate.