Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
नैनं ब्यालमृगा घ्नन्ति न पिशाचा न राक्षसा: । मुच्यते भयकालेषु मोक्षयेद् यो भये परान्
na enaṃ vyāla-mṛgā ghnanti na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ | mucyate bhaya-kāleṣu mokṣayed yo bhaye parān ||
Dijo Bhīṣma: «A tal hombre no lo matan las fieras, ni lo hieren los piśācas ni los rākṣasas. Quien libra a otros del miedo, cuando llega la hora del peligro, es él mismo liberado: la protección que dio a los demás se vuelve su propia protección».
भीष्म उवाच
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.
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.