Shloka 24
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
दस्यवश्लवापि नैच्छन्त तमत्तुं पापकारिणम् | क्रव्यादा अपि राजेन्द्र कृतघ्नं नोपभुज्जते
dasyavaślavāpi naicchanta tam attuṃ pāpakāriṇam | kravyādā api rājendra kṛtaghnaṃ nopabhuñjate ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ— ਰਾਜੇਂਦ੍ਰ! ਦੱਸਿਊਆਂ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਉਸ ਪਾਪੀ ਦਾ ਮਾਸ ਖਾਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਚਾਹਿਆ। ਮਹਾਰਾਜ! ਮਾਸਾਹਾਰੀ ਜੀਵ ਵੀ ਕ੍ਰਿਤਘਨ ਦੇ ਸਰੀਰ ਨੂੰ ਨਹੀਂ ਖਾਂਦੇ—ਕ੍ਰਿਤਘਨਤਾ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਐਸੀ ਹੀ ਘਿਨ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ingratitude (kṛtaghnatā) is portrayed as a grave moral stain: it is so repulsive that even those who live by violence (bandits) and even carnivores are said to reject association with it. The verse uses hyperbole to stress that gratitude is a foundational virtue in dharma.
Bhishma, instructing the king in Shanti Parva’s ethical discourse, cites a pointed observation: a sinful wrongdoer who is also ungrateful is considered unfit even as food. The statement functions as a moral exemplum within Bhishma’s counsel on righteous conduct.