Shloka 20
Śama-prāptiḥ — Gautamī–Lubdhaka–Pannaga–Mṛtyu–Kāla-saṃvāda
Restraint through the Analysis of Karma and Time
अग्नौ प्रक्षिप्पतामेष च्छिद्यतां खण्डशो5पि वा । न हायं बालहा पापश्चिरं जीवितुमहति
agnau prakṣippyatām eṣa chidyatāṁ khaṇḍaśo 'pi vā | na hy ayaṁ bālahā pāpaś ciraṁ jīvitum arhati ||
भीष्म उवाच—अग्नौ प्रक्षिप्यतामेषः छिद्यतां खण्डशोऽपि वा। न ह्ययं बालहा पापश्चिरं जीवितुमर्हति॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a strong ethical boundary: violence against the innocent—especially children—is a grave sin, and society’s duty (dharma) is to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice through decisive punishment.
Bhīṣma delivers a forceful judgment, calling for severe punishment—burning or dismemberment—against a person identified as a child-killer, declaring that such a sinner is unworthy of a long life.