Shloka 183
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
हन्तव्यो5यं मम मतिर्भवद्धिरिति राक्षसा: | 'राक्षसो! यह पापाचारी, पापकर्मा और पापात्मा है। इसके सारे साधन पापमय हैं; अतः तुम्हें इसका वध कर देना चाहिये, यही मेरा मत है”
hantavyo ’yaṃ mama matir bhavadbhir iti rākṣasāḥ |
“ହେ ରାକ୍ଷସମାନେ! ଏହାର ବଧ ହେବା ଉଚିତ—ଏହି ମୋର ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ମତ। ଏ ଲୋକ ପାପାଚାରୀ, ପାପକର୍ମୀ ଓ ପାପାତ୍ମା; ଏହାର ସମସ୍ତ ସାଧନ ପାପମୟ। ତେଣୁ ତୁମେ ଏହାକୁ ବଧ କର—ଏହି ମୋର ମତ।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames punitive violence as a dharmic obligation when a person is thoroughly corrupt in conduct, action, and intent, and when their very means are rooted in wrongdoing; Bhishma presents execution as a justified remedy to protect moral order.
Bhishma addresses a group of Rakshasas and gives a decisive opinion: the person under discussion is characterized as wholly sinful, so Bhishma advises them that he should be killed.