Shloka 24
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
दस्यवश्लवापि नैच्छन्त तमत्तुं पापकारिणम् | क्रव्यादा अपि राजेन्द्र कृतघ्नं नोपभुज्जते
dasyavaślavāpi naicchanta tam attuṃ pāpakāriṇam | kravyādā api rājendra kṛtaghnaṃ nopabhuñjate ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে— ৰাজেন্দ্ৰ! দস্যুসকলেও সেই পাপাচাৰীৰ মাংস খাবলৈ ইচ্ছা নকৰিলে। মহাৰাজ! মাংসাহাৰী জীৱ-জন্তুৱেও কৃতঘ্নৰ দেহ উপভোগ নকৰে—কৃতঘ্নতাৰ প্ৰতি তেনেকুৱা ঘৃণাই জাগে।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ingratitude (kṛtaghnatā) is portrayed as a grave moral stain: it is so repulsive that even those who live by violence (bandits) and even carnivores are said to reject association with it. The verse uses hyperbole to stress that gratitude is a foundational virtue in dharma.
Bhishma, instructing the king in Shanti Parva’s ethical discourse, cites a pointed observation: a sinful wrongdoer who is also ungrateful is considered unfit even as food. The statement functions as a moral exemplum within Bhishma’s counsel on righteous conduct.