Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Kīṭopākhyāna: Prajā-pālana as Kṣatra-vrata and the Attainment of Brāhmaṇya
नैनं ब्यालमृगा घ्नन्ति न पिशाचा न राक्षसा: । मुच्यते भयकालेषु मोक्षयेद् यो भये परान्
na enaṃ vyāla-mṛgā ghnanti na piśācā na rākṣasāḥ | mucyate bhaya-kāleṣu mokṣayed yo bhaye parān ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Hindi siya pinapatay ng mababangis na hayop, ni hindi siya sinasaktan ng mga piśāca at rākṣasa. Ang nagliligtas sa iba mula sa takot, kapag dumating ang oras ng panganib ay siya man ay napapalaya—ang pag-iingat niya sa kapwa ay nagiging pag-iingat sa sarili.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches a reciprocal moral law: one who actively frees others from fear and danger gains protection in return. Ethical courage and compassionate guardianship generate a safeguarding merit that shields the doer in crises.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma instructs Yudhiṣṭhira on dharma and conduct. Here he states a specific फलश्रुति-like assurance: the protector of others is not harmed by violent creatures or malevolent beings and is delivered when danger comes.