Shloka 91
Dasyu-maryādā and Buddhi-guided Rāja-nīti (दस्युमर्यादा तथा बुद्धिप्रधान-राजनीति)
उत्पतेत् सहजाद् देशाद् व्याधिदुर्भिक्षपीडितात् | अन्यत्र वस्तुं गच्छेद् वा वसेद् वा नित्यमानित:
utpatet sahajādd deśād vyādhidurbhikṣapīḍitāt | anyatra vastuṁ gacched vā vased vā nityamānitaḥ ||
اگر اپنا وطن بیماری اور قحط سے ستایا ہوا ہو تو جان کی حفاظت کے لیے وہاں سے نکل جانا چاہیے یا کہیں اور رہائش اختیار کرنی چاہیے۔ اور اگر وہیں رہنا ناگزیر ہو تو ہمیشہ باعزت—اپنا وقار قائم رکھتے ہوئے—زندگی بسر کرنی چاہیے۔
ब्रह्मदत्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
In times of severe crisis—when one’s homeland is stricken by disease and famine—dharma permits prioritizing self-preservation by relocating. If relocation is impossible, one should still uphold dignified conduct and maintain honorable standing, rather than collapsing into disorder or disgrace.
Within the Shanti Parva’s instruction on conduct and governance, Brahmadatta offers practical counsel for calamity: leave an afflicted region to protect life, or, if compelled to stay, live with sustained respectability and disciplined social behavior.