Shloka 18
Nārada–Vāyu–Śalmali Upākhyāna: Enmity with the Strong and the Primacy of Buddhi (नारद-वायु-शल्मलि उपाख्यानम्)
अर्ठमानो यत्र गृप्रै: शितिकण्ठैरयोमुखै: । ततश्न पुनरावृत्त: पापयोनिं गमिष्यसि
arthamāno yatra gṛpraiḥ śitikaṇṭhair ayomukhaiḥ | tataś ca punarāvṛttaḥ pāpayoniṃ gamiṣyasi
Bhishma sprach: „Dort, wenn du von den raubgierigen Vögeln mit dunkler Kehle und eisernem Schnabel fortgeschleift wirst und dann, nach dieser Erfahrung, wiederkehrst, wirst du in einen sündhaften Schoß eingehen.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Actions that violate dharma lead to painful post-mortem consequences and, after returning to worldly existence, to an inferior or sinful rebirth; therefore one should restrain harmful impulses and choose righteous conduct.
Bhīṣma is describing a punitive otherworldly scene—being tormented by fierce birds—then stating that after such suffering the person returns to samsāra and is born into a “sinful womb,” illustrating the karmic chain from wrongdoing to punishment to degraded rebirth.