Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
कर्मणा यत्र पापेन वर्तन्ते जीवितेप्सव: । व्यवधावेत् ततस्तूर्ण ससर्पाच्छ0एणादिव,जहाँ जीवनकी रक्षाके लिये लोग पापकर्मसे जीविका चलाते हों, सर्पयुक्त घरके समान उस स्थानसे तुरंत दूर हट जाना चाहिये
karmaṇā yatra pāpena vartante jīvitepsavaḥ | vyapadhāvet tataḥ tūrṇaṃ sa-sarpāc chūnyagṛhād iva ||
ଯେଉଁଠି ଲୋକେ କେବଳ ପ୍ରାଣରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ପାପକର୍ମରେ ଜୀବିକା ଚାଲାନ୍ତି, ସେଠାରୁ ତୁରନ୍ତ ଦୂରେଇଯିବା ଉଚିତ—ସର୍ପଭରା ଘରରୁ ପଳାଇବା ପରି।
नारद उवाच
Do not remain in a place where people maintain their livelihood through sinful actions for the sake of mere survival; withdraw promptly, because such association endangers one’s dharma and moral clarity.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and conduct, Nārada offers a practical guideline: recognize environments sustained by wrongdoing and leave them immediately, illustrated through the vivid comparison of fleeing a snake-infested house.