अहिंसयित्वा ब्रह्महत्याविधानम् / Brahmahatyā incurred without physical violence
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्त्वा ते जग्मुराशु चत्वारोडमिततेजस: । पृथिवी काश्यपो<ग्निश्च प्रकृष्टायुश्व भार्गव:
bhīṣma uvāca | ity uktvā te jagmur āśu catvāro 'mitatejasaḥ | pṛthivī kāśyapo 'gniś ca prakṛṣṭāyuś ca bhārgavaḥ ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „Nachdem sie so ihre wohlüberlegte Ansicht dargelegt hatten, brachen jene vier Wesen von unermesslichem Glanz sogleich auf — die Erde, Kaśyapa, Agni und der Bhārgava von außergewöhnlich langem Leben (Mārkaṇḍeya).“
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights a dharmic mode of discourse: after presenting a reasoned conclusion, the wise withdraw rather than prolong debate. Their departure signals that the instruction has been delivered and should now be contemplated and applied.
Bhishma reports to Yudhishthira that four illustrious beings—Earth, Kashyapa, Agni, and the long-lived Bhargava (Markandeya)—having expressed their opinion, promptly depart.