Shloka 176

Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)

Devanagari script

अस्य मांसैरिमे सर्वे विहरन्तु यथेष्टत: । तब राजाने अपने पुत्रको आज्ञा दी--'बेटा! इस पापीको मार डालो। ये समस्त राक्षस इसके मांसका यथेष्ट उपयोग करें

Transliteration

asya māṁsair ime sarve viharantu yatheṣṭataḥ |

Translation

“Biarlah semua makhluk ini bersenang-senang sekehendak mereka dengan daging orang ini.” Maka sang raja memerintahkan putranya, “Anakku, bunuhlah si pendosa ini, agar semua rākṣasa ini dapat memanfaatkan dagingnya sesuka hati.”

Word by Word

• अस्य: of this (one)
• अस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• मांसैः: with/by (his) flesh
• मांसैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विहरन्तु: let (them) enjoy / sport / make use
• Type: Verb
• Root: विहर्
• Form: Imperative (Lot), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• यथा-इष्टतः: as they wish; at will
• यथा-इष्टतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथेष्टतः (यथा + इष्टतः)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• rājā (the king)
• putra (the king’s son)
• rākṣasāḥ (rākṣasas/demons)
• pāpī (the sinful man/offender)
• māṁsa (flesh)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse, within a rājadharma context, illustrates the extreme end of punitive justice—punishment meant to match perceived sin and to deter wrongdoing—while implicitly inviting reflection on the boundary between lawful retribution and inhumane cruelty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma quotes or reports a command: the offender is to be killed, and rākṣasas are permitted to consume his flesh ‘as they please.’ A king instructs his son to carry out the execution, presenting the act as a response to grave wrongdoing.