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Shloka 15

अध्वर्यु–यति संवादः

Adhvaryu–Yati Dialogue on Svabhāva, Ahiṃsā, and Mokṣa

इन्धनस्य तु तुल्येन शरीरेण विचेतसा । हिंसानिर्वेष्टकामानामिन्धनं पशुसंज्ञितम्‌

indhanasya tu tulyena śarīreṇa vicetasā | hiṃsā-nirveṣṭa-kāmānām indhanaṃ paśu-saṃjñitam ||

Este cuerpo, insensible y sin mente, no es distinto de un simple combustible. Por ello, para quienes desean realizar el sacrificio como expiación de la violencia, el combustible mismo debe ser tenido por el ‘animal’; si el rito puede cumplirse con leña, ¿por qué incurrir en la matanza de criaturas?

इन्धनस्यof fuel
इन्धनस्य:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootइन्धन
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
तुल्येनequal (to)
तुल्येन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootतुल्य
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
शरीरेणwith/by the body
शरीरेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशरीर
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
विचेतसाunconscious, devoid of awareness
विचेतसा:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootविचेतस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
हिंसाof violence
हिंसा:
TypeNoun
Rootहिंसा
FormFeminine, Genitive, Singular
निर्वेष्टexpiation/undoing (lit. unwrapping, removal)
निर्वेष्ट:
TypeNoun
Rootनिर्वेष्ट
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
कामानाम्of those desiring
कामानाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootकाम
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
इन्धनम्fuel
इन्धनम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootइन्धन
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
पशुanimal/victim (sacrificial animal)
पशु:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपशु
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
संज्ञितम्designated/called
संज्ञितम्:
TypeAdjective
Rootसंज्ञि (सम्+ज्ञा)
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular

ब्राह्मण उवाच

ब्राह्मण (speaker)
इन्धन (fuel/firewood)
शरीर (body)
पशु (sacrificial animal/victim)
यज्ञ (sacrifice, implied)

Educational Q&A

The verse argues for non-violence in ritual: since an unconscious body is like inert fuel, one should treat fuel as the ‘sacrificial animal’ and avoid actual animal-killing, especially when the rite is sought as expiation for violence.

A Brahmin speaker presents an ethical reasoning within a discussion on sacrifice and expiation, challenging the necessity of animal sacrifice by proposing a symbolic or non-violent substitute.