Shloka 16
Adhyāya 39 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on attachment (saṅga) and relational restraint
भूमिरेतो निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव । राजानं चाप्ययोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम्
bhūmir eto nigirati sarpo bilaśayān iva | rājānaṃ cāpy ayoddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam ||
苏摩说道：“如同蛇吞噬穴居的小生灵，大地也会‘吞没’——亦即使之败亡而湮没无闻——那不肯出战的国王，以及不肯远行求学的婆罗门。换言之，怠弃本分：刹帝利当以勇武护民，婆罗门当以行旅与训练而严谨求学；一旦疏忽，衰败便如猎物被蛇吞食般必然。”
सोम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches svadharma: a Kshatriya who refuses rightful battle and a Brahmin who refuses the disciplined pursuit of learning (including necessary travel/sojourn for study) both fall into decline. Neglect of one’s ordained responsibilities leads to being ‘consumed’ by worldly consequences.
Soma delivers a moral analogy: just as a snake devours small burrow-dwelling creatures, the earth metaphorically devours those who abandon their social and ethical duties—specifically, the non-fighting king and the non-studying (non-traveling for learning) Brahmin.