Shloka 22
अध्याय १५२: लोभः पापस्य मूलम् — Greed as the Root of Wrongdoing
जनमेजय उवाच नैव वाचा न मनसा पुनर्जातु न कर्मणा । द्रोग्धास्मि ब्राह्मणान् विप्र चरणावपि ते स्पृशे
janamejaya uvāca naiva vācā na manasā punar jātu na karmaṇā | drogdhāsmi brāhmaṇān vipra caraṇāv api te spṛśe ||
जनमेजय ने कहा—विप्रवर! मैं आपके दोनों चरण स्पर्श करके शपथपूर्वक कहता हूँ कि वाणी, मन और कर्म से भी मैं फिर कभी ब्राह्मणों से द्रोह नहीं करूँगा।
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical restraint must be complete: one should avoid wrongdoing not only in actions but also in speech and even in intention (mind). The verse frames this as a solemn vow of non-harm toward Brahmins, emphasizing integrity across thought, word, and deed.
King Janamejaya addresses a Brahmin (vipra) with humility, physically touching the Brahmin’s feet as a sign of reverence, and declares a firm pledge that he will never again act with hostility toward Brahmins—an assurance meant to restore trust and align himself with dharma.