Shloka 26
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
कान्तारेष्वथ घोरेषु दुर्गेषु गहनेषु च । रात्रावहनि संध्यासु चत्वरेषु सभासु च
bhīṣma uvāca | kāntāreṣv atha ghoreṣu durgeṣu gahaneṣu ca | rātrāv ahani sandhyāsu catvareṣu sabhāsu ca, rājan | yo manuṣyo māṃsaṃ na khādati, tasya saṅkaṭapūrṇasthāneṣu bhayaṃ na prāpnoti; yady api tasya viruddhaṃ śastrāṇy udyatāni syuḥ athavā hiṃsrā mṛgāḥ sarpāś ca bhayāni samupasthitāni syuḥ, tathāpi sa parebhyo na bibheti ||
Bhishma dijo: «Oh rey, el hombre que no come carne no incurre en temor por causa de otros, ni siquiera en parajes peligrosos—en los terribles yermos, en fortalezas difíciles de franquear y en bosques espesos; de noche y de día, en las horas del crepúsculo, en las encrucijadas y aun en las asambleas públicas. Aunque se alcen armas contra él, o lo afronten los peligros de bestias feroces y serpientes, no teme a los demás.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that abstaining from meat—symbolizing non-violence and restraint—reduces enmity and karmic/social causes of harm, so the practitioner becomes comparatively fearless even in dangerous settings.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and praises the ethical and practical benefits of avoiding meat, describing how such a person remains unafraid amid threats like weapons, wild beasts, serpents, and risky public or lonely places.