Shloka 13
Prāyaścitta-vidhāna: Tapas, Dāna, Vrata, and Proportional Expiation (प्रायश्चित्तविधानम्)
अप्रवृत्तेरमर्त्यत्वं मर्त्यत्वं कर्मण: फलम् । अशुभस्याशुभं विद्याच्छुभस्य शुभमेव च । एतयोश्लोभयो: स्यातां शुभाशुभतया तथा
apravṛtter amartyatvaṁ martyatvaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam | aśubhasyāśubhaṁ vidyāc chubhasya śubham eva ca | etayoḥ ślokabhyoḥ syātāṁ śubhāśubhatayā tathā
Vyāsa dit : De la non‑engagement dans l’action naît l’immortalité ; de l’action naît la mortalité comme son fruit. Sache que le mal engendre le mal, et que le bien n’engendre que le bien. Ainsi, par ces deux vers, le principe des conséquences favorables et défavorables se trouve pareillement établi.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two paths and their outcomes: withdrawal from action (apravṛtti) is associated with deathlessness (amartyatva), while continued action binds one to mortality (martyatva). Ethically, it affirms moral causality: harmful deeds yield harmful results, and beneficial deeds yield beneficial results.
In Śānti Parva’s instruction on dharma and the means to peace and liberation after the war, Vyāsa states a doctrinal summary: action leads to continued mortal consequence, whereas cessation/renunciation points toward freedom; and in either case, deeds bear results according to their moral quality.