Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
सप्तर्षयो वालखिल्यास्तथैव च मरीचिपा: । अमांसभक्षणं राजन् प्रशंसन्ति मनीषिण:,राजन! सप्तर्षि, वालखिल्य तथा सूर्यकी किरणोंका पान करनेवाले अन्यान्य मनीषी महर्षि मांस न खानेकी ही प्रशंसा करते हैं
saptarṣayo vālakhilyās tathaiva ca marīcipāḥ | amāṁsabhakṣaṇaṁ rājan praśaṁsanti manīṣiṇaḥ ||
Wahai Raja, Tujuh Ṛṣi, para resi Vālakhilya, dan para bijak lainnya—mereka yang hidup dari sinar Sang Surya—memuji laku tidak memakan daging.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse upholds abstention from meat as an ethically praised discipline, validated by revered ascetic authorities (sages), implying that restraint in diet supports dharma, self-control, and non-violence.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs King Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma. Here he cites eminent sages—Saptarṣis, Vālakhilyas, and marīcipāḥ—to support the claim that wise seers commend not eating meat.