समतां वसुधायाश्व स सम्यगुदपादयत् | वैषम्यं हि परं भूमेरासीदिति च न: श्रुतम्,सुना जाता है कि पृथुके समय यह पृथ्वी बहुत ऊँची-नीची थी। उन्होंने ही इसे भलीभाँति समतल बनाया था
samatāṁ vasudhāyāś ca sa samyag udapādayat | vaiṣamyaṁ hi paraṁ bhūmer āsīd iti ca naḥ śrutam ||
Wika ni Bhishma: Maayos niyang ginawa ang lupa na maging pantay at banayad. Sapagkat narinig namin na noon ay lubhang baku-bako ang daigdig—punô ng matataas at mabababang bahagi—hanggang sa ang kanyang kamay na nag-aayos ang nagbigay rito ng kaayusang angkop sa paninirahang matatag at pamamahalang ayon sa dharma.
भीष्म उवाच
A righteous ruler’s duty is to remove disorder and make the world habitable and fair—symbolized by leveling the earth. Governance is not merely power; it is constructive, welfare-oriented action that enables dharma and stable livelihood.
Bhishma recalls a traditional account about King Pṛthu: the earth was once extremely uneven, and Pṛthu is credited with making it properly level, establishing conditions for agriculture, settlement, and orderly rule.