Shloka 32
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
त्रातारं नाधिगच्छन्ति रौद्रा: प्राणिविहिंसका: । उद्वेजनीया भूतानां यथा व्यालमृगास्तथा
trātāraṃ nādhigacchanti raudrāḥ prāṇivihiṃsakāḥ | udvejanīyā bhūtānāṃ yathā vyālamṛgās tathā ||
भीष्म उवाच—रौद्राः प्राणिविहिंसकाः त्रातारं नाधिगच्छन्ति। यथा व्यालमृगाः भूतानामुद्वेजनीया भवन्ति, तथा परत्रापि प्राणिहिंसकाः सर्वभूतानामुद्वेगहेतवो भवन्ति, स्वस्य च न कञ्चन शरणं लभन्ते॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One who harms living beings becomes fearsome to others and, by the moral law of karma, loses the possibility of protection or refuge; cruelty ultimately leaves a person unsupported.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he warns about the ethical and karmic fallout of violence toward creatures, using the analogy of wild beasts that inspire fear and receive no protection.