Shloka 26
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
कान्तारेष्वथ घोरेषु दुर्गेषु गहनेषु च । रात्रावहनि संध्यासु चत्वरेषु सभासु च
bhīṣma uvāca | kāntāreṣv atha ghoreṣu durgeṣu gahaneṣu ca | rātrāv ahani sandhyāsu catvareṣu sabhāsu ca, rājan | yo manuṣyo māṃsaṃ na khādati, tasya saṅkaṭapūrṇasthāneṣu bhayaṃ na prāpnoti; yady api tasya viruddhaṃ śastrāṇy udyatāni syuḥ athavā hiṃsrā mṛgāḥ sarpāś ca bhayāni samupasthitāni syuḥ, tathāpi sa parebhyo na bibheti ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai Raja, seorang yang tidak memakan daging tidak menanggung ketakutan daripada orang lain, walaupun berada di tempat-tempat berbahaya—di belantara yang menggerunkan, di kubu-kubu yang sukar ditembusi, dan di rimba yang lebat; pada malam dan siang, pada kedua-dua waktu senja, di simpang jalan, malah di balai perhimpunan. Sekalipun senjata diangkat terhadapnya, atau bahaya daripada binatang buas dan ular menghadang, dia tetap tidak gentar terhadap orang lain.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that abstaining from meat—symbolizing non-violence and restraint—reduces enmity and karmic/social causes of harm, so the practitioner becomes comparatively fearless even in dangerous settings.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and praises the ethical and practical benefits of avoiding meat, describing how such a person remains unafraid amid threats like weapons, wild beasts, serpents, and risky public or lonely places.