Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 27
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
Devanagari script
युधिछिर उवाच तद् दर्शितं भगवता यथा धर्मोडनुगच्छति । एतत् तु ज्ञातुमिच्छामि कथ्थ॑ रेत: प्रवर्तते
Translation
Yudhiṣṭhira said: “Revered sir, you have shown how Dharma follows the living being. Now I wish to know: how does the generative essence (retas—semen, vital potency) arise and come into motion within this body?”
Word by Word
युधिष्ठिरःYudhiṣṭhira
युधिष्ठिरः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुधिष्ठिर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
तत्that (matter)
तत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
दर्शितम्shown / explained
दर्शितम्:
TypeVerb
Rootदर्शित
FormPast Passive Participle (kta), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
भगवताby the Blessed Lord
भगवता:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootभगवत्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
यथाas / how
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
धर्मःdharma
धर्मः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
अनुगच्छतिfollows
अनुगच्छति:
TypeVerb
Rootअनु-गम्
FormPresent, Indicative, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
एतत्this (point)
एतत्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
तुbut / now
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
ज्ञातुम्to know
ज्ञातुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
FormInfinitive (tumun)
इच्छामिI wish / desire
इच्छामि:
TypeVerb
Rootइष्
FormPresent, Indicative, First, Singular, Parasmaipada
कथम्how
कथम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम्
रेतःsemen / seed
रेतः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरेतस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
प्रवर्ततेarises / comes into activity / is produced
प्रवर्तते:
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-√वृत्
FormPresent, Indicative, Third, Singular, Atmanepada
Speaker
युधिछिर उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes