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 ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Ang malulupit na nananakit sa mga nilalang ay walang masusumpungang tagapagtanggol. Gaya ng mababangis na hayop na kinatatakutan ng mga nilalang, gayon din ang mga sumasakit sa buhay: sa kabilang-buhay sila’y magiging sanhi ng sindak sa lahat ng nilalang, at sila man ay walang masisilungan o tagapag-ingat.”
भीष्म उवाच
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.