Shloka 31
नारद–असित (देवल) संवादः — भूतप्रभवाप्यय, इन्द्रिय-गुण-विवेक, क्षेत्रज्ञ-तत्त्व
न हिनस्ति नारभते नाभिद्रह्म॒ति किंचन । यज्ञो यष्टव्य इत्येव यो यजत्यफलेप्सया
na hinasti nārabhate nābhidrahmati kiñcana | yajño yaṣṭavya ityeva yo yajaty aphalepṣayā ||
Kapila says: One who performs sacrifice solely because it ought to be performed—without craving any reward—does not commit violence, does not bear malice toward anyone, and does not even set actions in motion from egoistic self-assertion. Such duty-bound, desireless ritual becomes an ethical discipline rather than a vehicle for harm or pride.
कपिल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Perform obligatory acts (like yajña) without desire for personal gain. When action is grounded in duty rather than reward or ego, it avoids violence, hostility, and pride-driven initiative.
In the Śānti Parva’s philosophical instruction, Kapila is explaining how desireless performance of prescribed duty transforms ritual action into a non-harming, non-hostile ethical practice.