Shloka 17
कपिल–स्यूमरश्मि संवादः
Kapila and Syūmaraśmi on Renunciation, Householder Support, and Epistemic Authority
न भूतो न भविष्यो5स्ति न च धर्मोडस्ति कश्नन । यो5भय: सर्वभूतानां स प्राप्रोत्यभयं पदम्
na bhūto na bhaviṣyo 'sti na ca dharmo 'sti kaścana | yo 'bhayaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ sa prāpnoty abhayaṃ padam ||
Tūlādāra said: “For one who is not bound by what has been done in the past nor by what is yet to come, and for whom no further obligation of ‘dharma’ remains to be performed, and who grants fearlessness to all beings—such a person attains the state of fearlessness.”
तुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links spiritual attainment with universal non-harm: the highest ‘fearless state’ is reached by one who is no longer driven by past/future compulsions, has no remaining sense of duty-as-burden, and actively becomes a source of safety for all beings.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse, Tūlādāra instructs on true righteousness beyond ritual or social status, emphasizing inner freedom and compassion—especially the practice of granting ‘abhaya’ (security) to all creatures.