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 ||
毗湿摩说：“罗刹们带着乔达摩迦，迅速前往梅鲁弗拉阇。在那里，他们向国王展示了罗阇达摩的尸身，又令那罪恶而忘恩的乔达摩迦立于王前。国王见此，连同群臣与家祭婆罗门一同痛哭；其宫邸之中，哀号之声大作。”
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.