This is Kṛṣṇa's business, to . . . Bhīṣma was a devotee, great devotee of Kṛṣṇa. So he promised that either Kṛṣṇa would break His promise, otherwise His friend will be dead. So He broke His promise. So sometimes Kṛṣṇa breaks His promise, own promise, for the sake of His devotee. Nobody is expected to break his promise, but Kṛṣṇa is so kind, for protection of His devotee He can do anything. He can break His promise also. This is Kṛṣṇa's position. So such Bhīṣma was so affectionate to the Pāṇḍavas. So Kṛṣṇa wanted . . . Bhīṣma was lying on the bed of arrows, preparing for his death. So Kṛṣṇa wanted that these Pāṇḍavas should go to Bhīṣma and hear his instruction.
Therefore, despite His advice to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira that, "There was no wrong on your part. You are thinking that you have killed, or for your sake so many men have been killed. That is not . . . you are not responsible for that. You are not sinful." For a Kṣatriya, killing is not sinful. For a Brāhmin, sacrificing an animal in the arena, that is not sinful. So it is all explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, sa doṣam api na tyajet (BG 18.48). Killing is bad, but a Kṣatriya's business is to kill. Without killing, one cannot become perfect Kṣatriya. Because he has to give protection, and there are so many demons, rascals. So if the king becomes nonviolent, how other citizens will be given protection? No.
So the king's business is as soon as he sees one undesirable element, immediately he would kill. That is real protection. Just like when Parīkṣit Mahārāja was going on tour, he saw one black man was trying to kill a cow. Immediately saw, "Who are you? You are trying to kill cow in my kingdom? I shall kill you." He immediately took out his sword. This is king, that . . . not that animals should not be given protection, only man should be given protection. No. Prajā. Prajā means one who has taken birth in the kingdom. That is called prajā. So animal is also American, man is also American, but there is no protection for the animal by the government.