Shloka 30
तक्षोवाच महास्कन्धो भृशं होष परशुर्न भविष्यति । कर्तु चाहं न शक्ष्यामि कर्म सद्धिर्विगर्हितम्,बढ़ईने कहा--इसके कंधे तो बड़े भारी और विशाल हैं। मेरी यह कुल्हाड़ी इसपर काम नहीं देगी और इस प्रकार किसी प्राणीकी हत्या करना तो साधु पुरुषों द्वारा निन्दित पापकर्म है, अतः मैं इसे नहीं कर सकूँगा
takṣovāca mahāskandho bhṛśaṃ hoṣa paraśur na bhaviṣyati | kartuṃ cāhaṃ na śakṣyāmi karma sadbhir vigarhitam ||
The carpenter said, “Its trunk is massive, with very large and heavy branches; my axe will not be able to do the work on it. Moreover, to kill a living being in this manner is a sinful act condemned by the virtuous. Therefore, I cannot do it.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when asked to carry out a task, one should refuse actions that are condemned by the virtuous and violate dharma—especially harm to a living being—since moral accountability cannot be outsourced.
A carpenter/woodcutter assesses a massive trunk and says his axe will not manage it; more importantly, he declines because the act involves killing a living being and is considered blameworthy by good people.