Shloka 27
Adhyāya 119: Vyāsa–Kīṭa-saṃvāda
Tapas-bala and karmic ascent across yoni
उद्यतेषु च शस्त्रेषु मृग॒व्यालभयेषु च । अमांसभक्षणे राजन् भयमन्यैर्न गच्छति
udyateṣu ca śastreṣu mṛga-vyāla-bhayeṣu ca | amāṁsa-bhakṣaṇe rājan bhayam anyair na gacchati ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O Hari, kahit na nakataas na ang mga sandata, at kahit nasa gitna ng mga takot na dulot ng usa, mababangis na hayop, at iba pang panganib, ang hindi kumakain ng laman ay hindi nagiging taong kinatatakutan dahil sa iba.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma links abstention from meat with moral strength and social-spiritual fearlessness: one who refrains from harming for food is less vulnerable to fear arising from others, even in threatening circumstances.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma advises the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on ethical conduct; here he praises non-meat-eating as a discipline that supports courage and freedom from intimidation.