Shloka 15
Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
नैनं ब्यालमृगा घ्नन्ति न पिशाचा न राक्षसा: । मुच्यते भयकालेषु मोक्षयेद् यो भये परान्
na enaṃ vyāla-mṛgā ghnanti na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ | mucyate bhaya-kāleṣu mokṣayed yo bhaye parān ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Binatang buas tidak membunuh orang demikian, dan piśāca serta rākṣasa pun tidak menyerangnya. Sesiapa yang melepaskan orang lain daripada ketakutan, pada saat bahaya datang dia sendiri akan terlepas—perlindungannya terhadap orang lain menjadi perlindungannya terhadap dirinya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.