Shloka 124
Varṇa-dharma and Rājadharma: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Outline (वर्णधर्म-राजधर्म-प्रश्नोत्तरम्)
तेनेयं पृथिवी दुग्धा सस्यानि दश सप्त च | यक्षराक्षसनागैश्वापीप्सितं यस्य यस्य यत्
teneyaṁ pṛthivī dugdhā sasyāni daśa sapta ca | yakṣarākṣasanāgaiś cāpīpsitaṁ yasya yasya yat |
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ସେ ଏହି ପୃଥିବୀକୁ ଯେନେ ଦୋହନ କଲେ; ତାହାରୁ ସତର ପ୍ରକାର ଧାନ୍ୟ ମିଳିଲା। ଏବଂ ଯକ୍ଷ, ରାକ୍ଷସ ଓ ନାଗମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଯାହାର ଯେଉଁ ଇଚ୍ଛିତ ବସ୍ତୁ ଥିଲା, ସେହି ବସ୍ତୁକୁ ସେ ଏହି ପୃଥିବୀରୁ ଦୋହି ବାହାର କରିଦେଲେ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the metaphor of ‘milking the Earth’ to express righteous governance: a capable ruler makes the land fruitful and ensures that diverse communities and beings receive what they legitimately seek, reflecting stewardship, order, and welfare rather than exploitation.
Bhīṣma describes a powerful figure who caused the Earth to yield abundant produce—specifically seventeen kinds of grains—and who enabled Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas to obtain from the Earth the particular goods each desired.