Shloka 21
Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
“मैं इसे आगमें झोंक दूँ या इसके टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर डालूँ? बालककी हत्या करनेवाला यह पापी सर्प अब अधिक समयतक जीवित रहने योग्य नहीं है” ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | “kim enaṃ vahnim āsyāmi athavā enaṃ khaṇḍa-khaṇḍaṃ kariṣyāmi? bāla-vadhakṛt eṣa pāpī sarpa idānīṃ ciram jīvituṃ nārhati” ||
gautamy uvāca | visṛjainam abuddhis tvaṃ; avadhyo ’rjunaka tvayā | ko hy ātmānaṃ guruṃ kuryāt prāptavyaṃ avicintayan ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Devo lançá-lo ao fogo, ou cortá-lo em pedaços? Esta serpente pecadora, assassina de uma criança, não merece viver mais.” Gautamī respondeu: “Solta-o, Arjunaka. Estás agindo sem discernimento. Não deves matar esta serpente. Quem, desprezando o que inevitavelmente há de acontecer, carregaria sobre si o pesado fardo do pecado?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when anger feels justified, one should not commit an act that adds personal sin; Gautami urges restraint and release, emphasizing discernment and the inevitability of what must occur (prāptavya), rather than retaliatory violence.
Bhishma expresses a desire to punish a serpent that has killed a child, proposing burning or dismemberment. Gautami intervenes, calling him undiscerning and instructing Arjunaka to release the serpent, warning that killing it would only burden the killer with guilt and sin.