Shloka 38
अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
अस्माकं ब्रह्म॒वध्याया: को5नन््तो लोकपितामह । देवेनाभिहतानस्मान् न पुनर्हन्तुमहिसि
asmākaṁ brahmavadhyāyāḥ ko 'nanto lokapitāmaha | devenābhihatān asmān na punar hantum arhasi ||
اے لوک پِتامہ، ہم پر آئی اس برہمن-ہتیا کا انجام کیا ہوگا؟ ہم تو پہلے ہی تقدیر کے مارے ساکن (ستھاور) حالت میں پڑے ہیں؛ لہٰذا آپ ہمیں دوبارہ نہ ماریں۔
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of brahma-slaying as a grave transgression and frames suffering as already administered by fate (daiva). It urges restraint—when beings are already afflicted by destiny and karmic consequence, further violence is portrayed as unnecessary and improper.
Bhīṣma addresses Lokapitāmaha (Brahmā), asking when the consequence of brahma-slaying will end. He states that they have already been struck by fate and reduced to an immobile state, and therefore requests that they not be struck or killed again.