Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15

Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya

Devanagari script

नैनं ब्यालमृगा घ्नन्ति न पिशाचा न राक्षसा: । मुच्यते भयकालेषु मोक्षयेद्‌ यो भये परान्‌

Transliteration

na enaṃ vyāla-mṛgā ghnanti na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ | mucyate bhaya-kāleṣu mokṣayed yo bhaye parān ||

Translation

Bhīṣma said: Fierce beasts do not kill such a person, nor do piśācas or rākṣasas strike him. One who rescues others from fear is himself released when times of danger arise—his protection of others becomes his own protection.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• व्याल-मृगाः: serpents and beasts (wild animals)
• व्याल-मृगाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल + मृग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• घ्नन्ति: kill/strike
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• पिशाचाः: piśācas (ghouls)
• पिशाचाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• राक्षसाः: rākṣasas (demons)
• राक्षसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मुच्यते: is freed/is released
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Karmani)

• भय-कालेषु: in times of fear/danger
• भय-कालेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय + काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• मोक्षयेत्: should free/release
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भये: in fear/in danger
• भये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• परान्: others
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• vyāla-mṛga (ferocious beasts)
• piśāca
• rākṣasa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a reciprocal moral law: one who actively frees others from fear and danger gains protection in return. Ethical courage and compassionate guardianship generate a safeguarding merit that shields the doer in crises.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and conduct. Here he states a specific फलश्रुति-like assurance: the protector of others is not harmed by violent creatures or malevolent beings and is delivered when danger comes.