Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 25
मांसपरिवर्जन-प्रशंसा (Praise of Abstention from Meat) / Ethics of Ahiṃsā in Diet and Rite
सर्वावस्थ॑ मनुष्येण न्यायेनान्नमुपार्जितम् । कार्य पात्रागतं नित्यमन्नं हि परमा गति:
sarvāvasthaṁ manuṣyeṇa nyāyenānnam upārjitam | kāryaṁ pātrāgataṁ nityam annaṁ hi paramā gatiḥ ||
मनुष्य को प्रत्येक अवस्था में न्यायपूर्वक उपार्जित अन्न सदा सत्पात्र को अर्पित करना चाहिए; क्योंकि अन्न ही प्राणियों का परम आधार और आश्रय है।
युधिछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Earn one’s livelihood—especially food—through just means, and make it a regular duty to offer that food to a worthy recipient; sustaining others through rightful giving is presented as a central dharmic obligation.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instruction on dharma and giving, Yudhiṣṭhira articulates a principle of ethical livelihood and charity: food obtained righteously should be consistently offered to deserving persons, because food sustains all life.