Shloka 20
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
अपि धिकृक्रियमाणो<पि त्यज्यमानो5प्यनेकधा । आत्मनो दर्शनाद् विप्रान्न हन्तास्मीति मार्गय । घटमान: स्वकार्येषु कुरु नि:श्रेयसं परम्
api dhik-kriyamāṇo ’pi tyajyamāno ’py anekadhā | ātmano darśanād viprān na hantāsmīti mārgaya | ghaṭamānaḥ svakāryeṣu kuru niḥśreyasaṃ param |
Quand bien même on te couvrirait d’injures à maintes reprises et qu’on te repousserait de mille façons, considère les brāhmaṇas comme ton propre soi et tiens ferme cette résolution : « Je ne tuerai pas les brāhmaṇas. » En t’appliquant avec ardeur à tes devoirs, poursuis le bien suprême (niḥśreyasa).
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Maintain non-violence toward brāhmaṇas even under provocation; cultivate ātma-darśana (seeing others as oneself) and, while diligently performing one’s duties, aim for niḥśreyasa—the highest spiritual good.
Śaunaka articulates a moral instruction: even if one is insulted or repeatedly rejected, one should not retaliate by harming brāhmaṇas; instead, one should restrain oneself, keep a firm vow of non-killing, and pursue the supreme welfare through right conduct.