Shloka 23
अज्ञान–लोभयोः परस्परहेतुत्वम्
Mutual Causality of Ignorance and Greed
विकर्मणा तप्यमान: पापादू विपरिमुच्यते । नैतत् कार्य पुनरिति द्वितीयात् परिमुच्यते
vikarmaṇā tapyamānaḥ pāpād vai parimucyate | naitat kāryaṃ punar iti dvitīyāt parimucyate ||
Śaunaka dit : « Celui qui, après avoir commis un acte contraire au śāstra, est tourmenté par le remords, est délivré du péché par cette souffrance de pénitence. Et si la faute survient une seconde fois, on s’en affranchit par la résolution ferme : “Je ne le ferai plus.” »
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sin arising from vikarma is mitigated through sincere remorse (inner ‘burning’ that functions as penance), and lasting moral recovery is secured by a clear vow of non-repetition—especially when the same fault threatens to recur.
In the didactic setting of the Śānti Parva, Śaunaka states a rule of ethical repair: wrongdoing should be met first with genuine repentance, and if repeated, with a decisive commitment to stop—presenting a practical path of prāyaścitta and self-discipline.