Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 54
Ahiṃsā as Threefold Restraint (Mind–Speech–Action) and the Ethics of Consumption
मनसापि गुरोर्भार्या यः शिष्यो याति पापकृत् । स उग्रान् प्रैति संसारानधर्मेणेह चेतसा
manasāpi guror bhāryāṁ yaḥ śiṣyo yāti pāpakṛt | sa ugrān praiti saṁsārān adharmeṇeha cetasā ||
युधिष्ठिर बोले— जो शिष्य पापी होकर मन से भी गुरु-पत्नी की ओर प्रवृत्त होता है, वह यहाँ अधर्मयुक्त संकल्प के कारण भयंकर संसार-चक्रों में पड़ता है और डरावनी योनियों को प्राप्त होता है।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that ethical transgression begins at the level of intention: even mentally entertaining desire toward one’s teacher’s wife violates dharma and generates grave karmic consequences.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on conduct and dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira states a strict rule of guru-śiṣya propriety: a disciple who even contemplates intimacy with the guru’s wife is deemed sinful and destined for harsh rebirths.