Shloka 173
Adhyāya 262: Śabda-brahman, Para-brahman, and the Ethics of Tyāga
Kapila–Syūmaraśmi Saṃvāda
सर्वभूतोपघातश्न॒ फलभावे च संयम: । हमने सुना है कि यदि कर्ममें किसी प्रकारकी त्रुटि हो जानेके कारण वह गुणहीन हो जाय तो भी यदि वह निष्कामभावसे किया जा रहा है तो श्रेष्ठ ही है अर्थात् वह कल्याणकारी ही होता है। निष्कामभावसे किये जानेवाले कर्ममें यदि कुत्ते आदि अपवित्र पशुओंके द्वारा स्पर्श हो जानेसे कोई बाधा भी आ जाय तथापि वह कर्म नष्ट नहीं होता, वह श्रेष्ठठम ही माना जाता है, अतः प्रत्येक कर्ममें फलकी भावना या कामनापर संयम-- नियन्त्रण रखना आवश्यक है
sarvabhūtopaghātaś ca phalabhāve ca saṁyamaḥ |
Chūlādhāra teaches that one must restrain oneself from harming any living being and must also keep the mind disciplined with regard to the desire for results. Even if an action becomes outwardly flawed or is obstructed by incidental impurity, when it is performed without selfish craving for its fruit it remains spiritually efficacious and conducive to welfare. Therefore, in every undertaking, control over fruit-motivation is essential, along with non-injury toward all beings.
चुलाधार उवाच
Educational Q&A
Restrain violence toward all beings and restrain the mind from craving the fruits of action; actions done without selfish desire remain beneficial even if outwardly imperfect.
In the Shanti Parva’s didactic dialogue, Chūlādhāra instructs the listener on ethical discipline, emphasizing non-injury and detachment from results as the measure of true merit in action.