Shloka 68
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
राजेन्द्र! श्येनचित्र
bhīṣma uvāca | rājendra! śyenacitraḥ, somakaḥ, vṛkaḥ, raivataḥ, rantidevaḥ, vasuḥ, sūñjayaḥ, anye ca nṛpāḥ—kṛpaḥ, bharataḥ, duṣyantaḥ, karūṣaḥ, rāmaḥ, alarkaḥ, naraḥ, virūpāśvaś ca, nimiḥ, buddhimān janakaḥ, purūravāḥ, pṛthuḥ, vīrasenaḥ, ikṣvākuḥ, śambhuḥ, śvetasāgaraḥ, ajaḥ, dhundhuḥ, subāhuḥ, haryaś ca, kṣupaḥ, bharataḥ—ete sarve tathā anye ca rājānaḥ kadācana māṁsaṁ na bhakṣayām āsuḥ || brahmaloke ca tiṣṭhanti jvalamānāḥ śriyānvitāḥ | upāsyamānā gandharvaiḥ strīsahasrasamanvitāḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó senhor dos reis! Shyenacitra, Somaka, Vrika, Raivata, Rantideva, Vasu, Sūñjaya, e muitos outros soberanos—Kripa, Bharata, Dushyanta, Karūṣa, Rama, Alarka, Nara, Virūpāśva, Nimi, o sábio Janaka, Purūravas, Prithu, Vīrasena, Ikshvāku, Śambhu, Śvetasāgara, Aja, Dhundhu, Subāhu, Harya, Kṣupa, Bharata—estes e outros reis jamais comeram carne em tempo algum. E eles habitam o mundo de Brahmā, radiantes e dotados de prosperidade, honrados pelos Gandharvas e acompanhados por milhares de mulheres.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma upholds ahiṃsā and restraint in diet by citing exemplary kings who abstained from meat; their moral discipline is presented as a cause of exalted posthumous attainment (Brahmaloka), linking ethical conduct with spiritual reward.
In Bhishma’s instruction to the king, he lists renowned rulers as precedents for meat-abstinence and then states the फल (result): they dwell in Brahmaloka, radiant and prosperous, honored by Gandharvas—an argument by authoritative exemplars to persuade the listener toward the same dharmic practice.