Shloka 34
अध्याय ३५१ — उञ्छवृत्ति-व्रतसिद्धेः मानुषस्य परमगतिः
Sūrya–Nāga Dialogue on the Perfected Gleaner-Ascetic
निग्रहेण च पापानां साधूनां प्रग्रहेण च । इयं तपस्विनी सत्या धारयिष्यति मेदिनी,'पापियोंको दण्ड देने और साधु पुरुषोंपर अनुग्रह करनेसे यह तपस्विनी सत्यस्वरूपा पृथ्वी बलसे टिकी रह सकेगी
nigraheṇa ca pāpānāṃ sādhūnāṃ pragraheṇa ca | iyaṃ tapasvinī satyā dhārayiṣyati medinīm ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Nhờ kiềm chế và trừng phạt kẻ ác, và nhờ ban ân che chở người hiền, trái đất này—một bậc khổ hạnh, chính là hiện thân của Chân lý—sẽ có thể tự nâng đỡ mình.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse states a principle of rājadharma: society and the world remain stable when rulers both (1) restrain and punish the wicked (nigraha) and (2) support and protect the virtuous (pragraha). Justice is not only punitive; it must also actively uphold goodness.
In Vaiśampāyana’s narration within Śānti Parva’s teachings on governance and dharma, the earth is personified as a truth-embodied ascetic. Her ability to ‘bear’ the world is linked to the ruler’s balanced exercise of punishment for wrongdoing and favor toward the righteous.