Shloka 456
तावती: स समा राजन् नरके प्रतिपद्यते । अतः न ब्राह्मणको गाली दे और न उसे कभी धरती पर गिरावे। राजन! ब्राह्मणके शरीरमें घाव हो जानेपर उससे निकला हुआ रक्त धूलके जितने कणोंको भिगोता है, उसे चोट पहुँचानेवाला मनुष्य उतने ही वर्षोतक नरकमें पड़ा रहता है
tāvatīḥ sa samā rājan narake pratipadyate | ataḥ na brāhmaṇako gālī de aur na use kabhī dhartī par girāve | rājan! brāhmaṇake śarīrameṃ ghāva ho jānepara usase nikalā huā rakta dhūlake jitane kaṇoṃko bhigotā hai, use coṭa pahuṃcānevālā manuṣya utane hī varṣoṃtaka narakameṃ paṛā rahatā hai |
Bhīṣma bersabda: “Wahai Raja, selama itulah seseorang jatuh ke neraka. Maka jangan sekali-kali mencaci seorang Brāhmaṇa, dan jangan sekali-kali menjatuhkannya ke tanah. Wahai Raja, apabila luka ditimpakan pada tubuh Brāhmaṇa, maka selama bilangan tahun sebanyak mana darah yang mengalir itu membasahi butir-butir debu, selama itulah si penyerang terbaring di neraka.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that harming or even insulting a Brahmin is a grave adharma with severe karmic consequences: the punishment in hell is proportionate to the harm caused, emphasizing restraint in speech and action and the ruler’s duty to protect the socially and ritually revered.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction section, Bhishma addresses the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) and lays down a rule of conduct: do not abuse or physically assault Brahmins. He illustrates the severity by a vivid measure—years in hell equal to the dust-particles wetted by the Brahmin’s spilled blood.