Shloka 20
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
आत्मौपम्येन मन्तव्यं बुद्धिमद्धिः कृतात्मभि: । मृत्युतो भयमस्तीति विदुषां भूतिमिच्छताम्
ātmaupamyena mantavyaṃ buddhimadbhiḥ kṛtātmabhiḥ | mṛtyuto bhayam astīti viduṣāṃ bhūtim icchatām ||
ビーシュマは言った。「賢く自制ある者は、己を尺度として思惟し、あらゆる生きものを自分自身のごとく見るべきである。自らの安寧を求める博識の者でさえ死を恐れて生きているのだから、罪なく健やかで生を願う生類が、肉を生業とする罪深き者どもに力ずくで屠られるとき、どうして恐れを抱かずにいられようか。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Use ātmaupamya—placing oneself in another’s position—as an ethical test: since everyone fears death and seeks well-being, one should not cause fear and harm to other living beings, especially the innocent.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and right conduct. Here he argues from a universal human experience—fear of death—to ground compassion toward all creatures and to condemn violent killing driven by appetite or livelihood.