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Shloka 263

एकान्तिधर्म-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into Ekāntin Dharma) / The Origin and Practice of Single-Pointed Nārāyaṇa-Centered Discipline

न च कायेन कृतवान्‌ स पापं परमण्वपि । धर्मपूर्वक राज्यका शासन करते हुए उन शत्रुघाती नरेशने न तो कभी असत्य भाषण किया और न कभी उनका मन ही बुरे विचारोंसे दूषित हुआ। अपने शरीरके द्वारा उन्होंने कभी छोटे-से-छोटा पाप भी नहीं किया था

na ca kāyena kṛtavān sa pāpaṃ paramaṇv api |

قال بهيشما: إن ذلك الملك القاتل للأعداء، إذ كان يحكم وفق الدارما، لم ينطق قطّ بكذب، ولم تتلطّخ نفسه بأفكارٍ دنيئة. وحتى بأفعال الجسد لم يرتكب أدنى إثم—ولا ذرةً من خطيئة.

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
कायेनby the body
कायेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकाय
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
कृतवान्did / committed (having done)
कृतवान्:
TypeVerb
Rootकृ
Formक्तवतुँ (ktavatu), Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Perfective/past participial (agentive)
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पापम्sin, evil deed
पापम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपाप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
परमाणुthe smallest particle; an atom (i.e., even the least bit)
परमाणु:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपरमाणु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अपिeven, also
अपि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
A
an unnamed dharma-abiding king (enemy-slaying ruler)

Educational Q&A

The verse upholds a threefold ethic of purity—of body (kāya), speech (vāk), and mind (manas). A truly dharmic ruler is portrayed as one who avoids even the tiniest bodily wrongdoing, does not speak falsehood, and keeps the mind free from corrupt intentions.

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhīṣma is describing the exemplary character of a king: a ruler who governs according to dharma and is so disciplined that he commits no sin even in the smallest measure, while also remaining truthful and mentally untainted.