Shloka 10
Taḍāga-Phala and Vṛkṣāropaṇa
Merit of Ponds and Tree-Planting
दीप्तिमग्ने: प्रभां मेरो: प्रतापं तपनस्य च । एतान्यतिक्रमेद् यो वै स हन्याच्छशणागतम्
bhīṣma uvāca | dīptim agneḥ prabhāṃ meroḥ pratāpaṃ tapanasya ca | etāny atikramed yo vai sa hanyāc charaṇāgatam ||
Cahaya api, kemilau Meru, dan kedahsyatan Surya—siapa yang melanggar semua itu, dialah yang bahkan sanggup membunuh orang yang datang memohon perlindungan. Membunuh seorang yang telah berserah diri berarti menginjak batas-batas dharma yang menyangga tatanan dunia.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Slaying a śaraṇāgata—someone who has sought protection—is a grave breach of dharma. It is portrayed as a transgression so extreme that it overturns the natural, inviolable standards symbolized by fire’s radiance, Meru’s splendor, and the Sun’s might.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira ethical norms. Here he condemns the killing of a surrendered suppliant, using cosmic images (Agni, Meru, Sun) to stress how foundational this duty of protection is.