Shloka 16
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
गौतमको लेकर वे राक्षस शीघ्र ही मेरुव्रजमें गये। वहाँ उन्होंने राजाको राजधर्माका मृत शरीर दिखाया और पापाचारी कृतघ्न गौतमको भी सामने खड़ा कर दिया ।।
gautamakaṃ nītvā te rākṣasāḥ śīghram eva meruvraje gatāḥ | tatra te rājānaṃ rājadharmasya mṛtaṃ śarīraṃ darśayām āsuḥ, pāpācāriṇaṃ kṛtaghnaṃ gautamakaṃ ca sammukhe sthāpayām āsuḥ || ruroda rājā taṃ dṛṣṭvā sāmātyaḥ sapurohitaḥ | ārtanādaś ca sumahān abhūt tasya niveśane ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Đem theo Gautamaka, bọn rākṣasa vội vã đến Meruvraja. Tại đó, chúng cho nhà vua thấy thi thể của Rājadharma, và cũng bắt Gautamaka—kẻ tội lỗi, vô ơn—đứng ngay trước mặt. Thấy vậy, nhà vua cùng các đại thần và vị tư tế hoàng gia òa khóc; một tiếng kêu than thống thiết vang dậy khắp hoàng cung.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of kṛtaghnatā (ingratitude) and pāpācāra (sinful conduct): wrongdoing is not merely private but wounds the moral order and brings public sorrow. It also frames accountability—wrongdoers are brought face-to-face with consequences before rightful authority.
Rākṣasas bring Gautamaka to Meruvraja and present to the king the dead body of a person named Rājadharma, while also placing the culpable Gautamaka before him. The king, along with his ministers and priest, is overwhelmed with grief, and loud lamentation spreads through the palace.