अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । गृहीत्वा रक्षसा मुक्तो द्विजाति: कानने यथा
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam | gṛhītvā rakṣasā mukto dvijātiḥ kānane yathā ||
Ici encore, on cite un antique exemple : ainsi qu’un dvija, saisi par un rākṣasa dans la forêt, fut pourtant relâché et sauvé—grâce à une prudente politique de conciliation, non par la force.
भीष्म उवाच
Bhīṣma introduces an old precedent to show that even in danger one may secure safety through nīti—prudent, conciliatory strategy and wise conduct—rather than relying only on violence.
Bhīṣma begins an illustrative story: a rākṣasa captures a twice-born man in a forest, yet the captive is ultimately freed; the verse signals that this will serve as a moral example for the topic under discussion.