Shloka 17
यजमानांस्तु तान् दृष्टवा सर्वान् दीक्षानुकर्शितान् । हन्तुमैच्छन्त शैलाभा: खलिनो नाम दानवा:
yajamānāṁs tu tān dṛṣṭvā sarvān dīkṣānukarśitān | hantum aicchanta śailābhāḥ khalino nāma dānavāḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Voyant tous ces sacrifiants—chacun amaigri par les disciplines de la consécration (dīkṣā)—les Dānavas nommés Khalin, dont les corps étaient pareils à des montagnes, désirèrent les tuer. L’épisode souligne que ceux qu’affaiblissent des vœux sacrés peuvent devenir la proie de l’adharma, et que la violence dirigée contre un yajña est tenue pour une faute morale très grave, appelant le conflit.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Harming those engaged in yajña and weakened by dīkṣā is portrayed as adharma; sacred observance deserves protection, and aggression against it becomes a moral fault that precipitates justified resistance and wider conflict.
The Dānavas called Khalin see the sacrificers (devas/ritual performers) grown thin from consecration vows and decide to kill them, setting the stage for a clash between opposing forces over the integrity of the sacrifice.