Shloka 19
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
नैषामुक्षा वहति नोत वाहा न गर्गरो मथ्यति सम्प्रदाने । अपध्वस्ता दस्युभूता भवन्ति येषां राष्ट्रे ब्राह्मणा वृत्तिहीना:
naiṣām uṣā vahati noto vāhā na gargarō mathyati sampradāne | apadhvastā dasyubhūtā bhavanti yeṣāṃ rāṣṭre brāhmaṇā vṛttihīnāḥ ||
Sa mga kahariang walang ikabubuhay ang mga Brahmin, hindi kumikiling sa kanila ang kasaganaan: walang wastong sasakyan o mga hayop na panghila, at walang pag-ikid ng gatas at yogurt para sa layuning magbigay. Ang mga pinunong yaon, na nalaglag sa nararapat na hangganan, ay napapariwara at nagiging mga mandarambong.
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s legitimacy and prosperity depend on sustaining dharmic social institutions—especially ensuring that Brahmins (teachers, ritual specialists, custodians of learning) have secure livelihood. When this support collapses, generosity and productive household economy decline, and rulers fall into lawless predation.
Arjuna states a moral-political observation: in a kingdom where Brahmins are left without livelihood, signs of well-being (proper conveyance, productive dairy churning for gifts) disappear, and the rulers, losing their moral boundaries, become like robbers.