Shloka 2
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
स चापि पाश्चे सुष्वाप विश्वस्तो बकराट् तदा | कृतघ्नस्तु स दुष्टात्मा तं जिघांसुरथाग्रत:
sa cāpi pārśve suṣvāpa viśvasto bakarāṭ tadā | kṛtaghnas tu sa duṣṭātmā taṃ jighāṃsur athāgrataḥ |
Bhishma said: Trusting him, the king of cranes lay down to sleep right beside him. But that wicked, ungrateful wretch rose with the intent to kill; and, coming from the front, he struck down the unsuspecting king with a burning piece of wood. Having slain him, he felt great delight, his mind not turning at all to the sin incurred by murdering a friend.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns kṛtaghnatā (ingratitude) and betrayal: harming a trusting friend is a grave ethical failure, and delight in such an act shows moral blindness to pāpa (sin).
A trusting 'king of cranes' sleeps beside someone he considers safe; the other, described as wicked and ungrateful, rises intending murder and kills him with a burning piece of wood, rejoicing without regard for the sin of friend-slaying.