Shloka 21
Śaraṇāgata-Atithi-Dharma in the Kapota Narrative (कपोत-आख्यानम्—शरणागतधर्मः)
क्वचिच्चोरै: क्वचिच्छस्त्रै: क्वचिद् राजभिरातुरै: । परस्परभयाच्चैव शून्यभूयिष्ठनिर्जना
kvacic coraiḥ kvacic chastraiḥ kvacid rājabhir āturaiḥ | parasparabhayāc caiva śūnyabhūyiṣṭhanirjanā ||
毗湿摩说道：“有些地方，盗匪制造恐怖；有些地方，兵刃与武力横行；还有些地方，困厄的君王反成压迫之源。又因人们彼此相惧，大地很大一部分几近空寂——荒凉而无人居住。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When dharma and effective governance collapse, society is consumed by fear and violence—from criminals, militarized force, and even unstable rulers—leading to depopulation and widespread ruin. The verse underscores the ethical duty of rulers to secure order and protect people from both external and internal threats.
Bhishma is describing a time of severe social breakdown: different regions are afflicted by banditry, armed conflict, and oppressive or distressed kings. Mutual fear among people further accelerates flight and abandonment, so large tracts of land become deserted.