Shloka 20
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
यक्षेणर्द्धिमता राजन् स्थूणाकर्णेन पालितम् । तद्धभयादेव च जनो विसर्जयति तद् वनम्
yakṣeṇarddhimatā rājan sthūṇākarṇena pālitam | tad-bhayād eva ca jano visarjayati tad vanam, rājan ||
大王啊，那片森林由一位富足而强大的夜叉守护，名为“柱耳”（Sthūṇākarṇa）。仅因惧怕他一人，寻常百姓便弃离那林，不再往来。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power—especially when backed by fear—can effectively restrict access and shape public behavior; a ruler should understand how protection, intimidation, and public safety influence society and the use of common spaces.
Bhīṣma tells the king that a certain forest was under the protection of a mighty Yakṣa named Sthūṇākarṇa, and because people feared him, they stopped entering the forest and effectively abandoned it.