Shloka 33
Śreyas-nirdeśa (Discerning the Superior Good): Nārada–Gālava Saṃvāda
अन्तवद्ध्विरुत प्राज्ञ: क्षत्रयज्जै: पिशाचवत् । मेरे-जैसा ज्ञानवान् पुरुष हिंसाप्रधान पशुयज्ञोंद्वारा कैसे यजन कर सकता है? अथवा पिशाचके समान विनाशशील क्षत्रिय--यज्ञोंके अनुष्ठानमें कैसे प्रवृत्त हो सकता है ।।
antavaddhviruta prājñaḥ kṣatrayajjaiḥ piśācavat | mere-jaisā jñānavān puruṣa hiṃsāpradhāna paśuyajñair dvārā kathaṃ yajanaṃ karotu? athavā piśācake samāna vināśaśīla kṣatriya-yajñānāṃ anuṣṭhāne kathaṃ pravṛttaḥ syāt ||
毗湿摩说道：“真正的智者——洞见一切有身之物终归灭尽者——怎会行那以暴害为主的祭祀，如以牲畜为供的献祭？又怎会有刹帝利，其生命如罗刹般转瞬即逝，却投身于这类所谓‘刹帝利之祭’的施行？”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Wisdom grounded in the awareness of impermanence should not endorse or pursue ritual action that is primarily violent; ethical discernment can override socially normalized forms of sacrifice.
In Bhishma’s instruction during the Shanti Parva, he questions the propriety of violent sacrificial rites—especially animal sacrifices and ‘kshatriya’ forms of ritual—arguing that a wise person, and even a perishable warrior, should hesitate to engage in such harm-based observances.