Shloka 31
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
यस्माद् ग्रसति चैवायुरहिसकानां महाद्युते । तस्माद् विवर्जयेन्मांसं य इच्छेद् भूतिमात्मन:
yasmād grasati caivāyur ahiṃsakānāṃ mahādyute | tasmād vivarjayen māṃsaṃ ya icched bhūtim ātmanaḥ ||
भीष्म उवाच—महाद्युते नरेश! हिंसकानां हि पापमेवायुः ग्रसति। तस्माद् य आत्मनः भूतिं कल्याणं च इच्छेत्, स मांसं सर्वथा विवर्जयेत्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Violence brings moral fault (pāpa) that diminishes one’s life and well-being; therefore, one who seeks true welfare should renounce meat, aligning conduct with ahiṃsā.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing the king on dharma and ethical living; here he emphasizes the karmic and ethical consequences of हिंसा and recommends abstaining from meat as a practical expression of non-violence.