Shloka 15

Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya

Devanagari script

नैनं ब्यालमृगा घ्नन्ति न पिशाचा न राक्षसा: । मुच्यते भयकालेषु मोक्षयेद्‌ यो भये परान्‌

Transliteration

na enaṃ vyāla-mṛgā ghnanti na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ | mucyate bhaya-kāleṣu mokṣayed yo bhaye parān ||

Translation

ഭീഷ്മൻ പറഞ്ഞു—മറ്റുള്ളവരെ ഭയത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മോചിപ്പിക്കുന്നവനെ ക്രൂരമൃഗങ്ങൾ കൊല്ലുകയില്ല; പിശാചുകളോ രാക്ഷസരോ അവനെ ആക്രമിക്കുകയുമില്ല. ഭയകാലം വന്നാൽ അവനും അതിൽ നിന്ന് മോചിതനാകും.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• व्याल-मृगाः: serpents and beasts (wild animals)
• व्याल-मृगाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल + मृग
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• घ्नन्ति: kill/strike
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• पिशाचाः: piśācas (ghouls)
• पिशाचाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• न: nor/not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• राक्षसाः: rākṣasas (demons)
• राक्षसाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मुच्यते: is freed/is released
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Passive (Karmani)

• भय-कालेषु: in times of fear/danger
• भय-कालेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय + काल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• मोक्षयेत्: should free/release
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यः: who
• यः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भये: in fear/in danger
• भये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• परान्: others
• परान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• vyāla-mṛga (ferocious beasts)
• piśāca
• rākṣasa

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches a reciprocal moral law: one who actively frees others from fear and danger gains protection in return. Ethical courage and compassionate guardianship generate a safeguarding merit that shields the doer in crises.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and conduct. Here he states a specific फलश्रुति-like assurance: the protector of others is not harmed by violent creatures or malevolent beings and is delivered when danger comes.