Shloka 10
Taḍāga-Phala and Vṛkṣāropaṇa
Merit of Ponds and Tree-Planting
दीप्तिमग्ने: प्रभां मेरो: प्रतापं तपनस्य च । एतान्यतिक्रमेद् यो वै स हन्याच्छशणागतम्
bhīṣma uvāca | dīptim agneḥ prabhāṃ meroḥ pratāpaṃ tapanasya ca | etāny atikramed yo vai sa hanyāc charaṇāgatam ||
毗湿摩说道：“凡敢违犯火之光辉、须弥山之灿然、以及太阳之炽盛威力者——此人亦必敢杀那前来投诚求庇之人。杀害已归顺求护者，便是践踏维系世间道德秩序之法（Dharma）的界限。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Slaying a śaraṇāgata—someone who has sought protection—is a grave breach of dharma. It is portrayed as a transgression so extreme that it overturns the natural, inviolable standards symbolized by fire’s radiance, Meru’s splendor, and the Sun’s might.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on righteous conduct, Bhishma teaches Yudhiṣṭhira ethical norms. Here he condemns the killing of a surrendered suppliant, using cosmic images (Agni, Meru, Sun) to stress how foundational this duty of protection is.