Shloka 456
Adhyāya 166: Kṛtaghna-doṣa (कृतघ्नदोषः) — the fault of ingratitude and the limits of expiation
तावती: स समा राजन् नरके प्रतिपद्यते । अतः न ब्राह्मणको गाली दे और न उसे कभी धरती पर गिरावे। राजन! ब्राह्मणके शरीरमें घाव हो जानेपर उससे निकला हुआ रक्त धूलके जितने कणोंको भिगोता है, उसे चोट पहुँचानेवाला मनुष्य उतने ही वर्षोतक नरकमें पड़ा रहता है
tāvatīḥ sa samā rājan narake pratipadyate | ataḥ na brāhmaṇako gālī de aur na use kabhī dhartī par girāve | rājan! brāhmaṇake śarīrameṃ ghāva ho jānepara usase nikalā huā rakta dhūlake jitane kaṇoṃko bhigotā hai, use coṭa pahuṃcānevālā manuṣya utane hī varṣoṃtaka narakameṃ paṛā rahatā hai |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja, selama itulah seseorang jatuh ke neraka. Karena itu jangan pernah mencaci seorang Brāhmaṇa, dan jangan pula menjatuhkannya ke tanah. Wahai Raja, bila tubuh seorang Brāhmaṇa dilukai, maka selama bertahun-tahun sebanyak butir debu yang dibasahi darah yang mengalir, selama itu pula si penyerang tinggal di neraka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that harming or even insulting a Brahmin is a grave adharma with severe karmic consequences: the punishment in hell is proportionate to the harm caused, emphasizing restraint in speech and action and the ruler’s duty to protect the socially and ritually revered.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and lays down a rule of conduct: do not abuse or physically assault Brahmins. He illustrates the severity by a vivid measure—years in hell equal to the dust-particles wetted by the Brahmin’s spilled blood.